View allAll Photos Tagged BasaltColumns
My daughter and I met up about halfway between our homes on Sunday for lunch and to take photos . Neither of us had been to Fingal Head before but it was a beautiful and interesting spot. Most of our attention was focused on the basalt columns of the headland.
Basalt column tops near Kirkjubæjarklaustur - this is called Kirkjugolf.
More photos on www.sophiecarrphotography.com
The Giant's Causeway (known as Clochán an Aifir or Clochán na bhFomhórach in Irish and tha Giant's Causey in Ulster-Scots) is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption.
It is located in County Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the town of Bushmills.
It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, and a national nature reserve in 1987 by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.
The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven or eight sides. The tallest are about 12 metres (39 ft) high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 28 metres (92 ft) thick in places.
Much of the Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site is today owned and managed by the National Trust and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland.
Around 50 to 60 million years ago, during the Paleogene Period, Antrim was subject to intense volcanic activity, when highly fluid molten basalt intruded through chalk beds to form an extensive lava plateau. As the lava cooled, contraction occurred. Horizontal contraction fractured in a similar way to drying mud, with the cracks propagating down as the mass cooled, leaving pillar-like structures, which are also fractured horizontally into "biscuits". In many cases the horizontal fracture has resulted in a bottom face that is convex while the upper face of the lower segment is concave, producing what are called "ball and socket" joints. The size of the columns is primarily determined by the speed at which lava from a volcanic eruption cools.
The extensive fracture network produced the distinctive columns seen today. The basalts were originally part of a great volcanic plateau called the Thulean Plateau which formed during the Paleogene.
According to legend, the columns are the remains of a causeway built by a giant.
The story goes that the Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool), from the Fenian Cycle of Gaelic mythology, was challenged to a fight by the Scottish giant Benandonner. Fionn accepted the challenge and built the causeway across the North Channel so that the two giants could meet. In one version of the story, Fionn defeats Benandonner. In another, Fionn hides from Benandonner when he realises that his foe is much bigger than he. Fionn's wife, Oonagh, disguises Fionn as a baby and tucks him in a cradle. When Benandonner sees the size of the 'baby', he reckons that its father, Fionn, must be a giant among giants. He flees back to Scotland in fright, destroying the causeway behind him so that Fionn could not follow.
Across the sea, there are identical basalt columns (a part of the same ancient lava flow) at Fingal's Cave on the Scottish isle of Staffa, and it is possible that the story was influenced by this.
It's not clear to me at what point we arrived on Snaefellsnes Peninsula; 54 heads north from Borgarnes and then bends westward. Just before that bend happens, one reaches Eldborg, and a dirt road heads east towards the Eldborg crater. Along that dirt road are these fine basalt columns. Iceland
Kirkjugolfid, The Church Floor; east of Kirkjubaejarklaustur village, Iceland
The basalt columns were formed when lava cooled and contracted, cracking the rock. When this happened, the lava broke apart evenly, creating the distinctive hexagonal shape.
Elaine provides some scale to the massive basalt columns on Reynishverfi Beach, at the base of the cliffs of the mountain Reynisfjall near Vik, Iceland
Iceland Holiday Day Six (Skaftafell National Park, South Iceland)
On one side of the parks visitor centre is ice. On the other are large hills, greenery and waterfalls.
This is Svartifoss waterfall, which was a lovely little waterfall which flows down against a backdrop of basalt columns. Here's me, admiring the waterflow.
I really didn’t get to explore and photograph the basalt as much as I would have liked because the skua kept attacking me with a vengeance. I covered my head with my fleece jacket and cursed myself for leaving my umbrella in the car. They sliced across my head more times than I can count but as far as I can tell, they didn’t actually cut me open. It hurt, though, and it was unnerving, so I finally yelled, “Okay, okay! I’m leaving! Jesus Christ!” and stomped back to the car.
Reynisfjara black sand beach, Iceland
Black volcanic sands, smooth pebbles, unique rock formations, overall moody atmosphere and huge waves crashing on the shore!
Basalt columns. The Village of Vik, Iceland. In 1991 this black sand beach that was ranked as one of the ten most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world.
Colunas de basalto. A vila de Vik, Islândia. Em 1991 esta praia de areia preta que foi classificada como uma das dez mais belas praias não tropicais do mundo.
The Village of Vik, Iceland. In 1991 this black sand beach that was ranked as one of the ten most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world.
A vila de Vik, Islândia. Em 1991 esta praia de areia preta que foi classificada como uma das dez mais belas praias não tropicais do mundo.
Vatnajökull National Park
Svartifoss is one of the most popular waterfall in Iceland and one of the highlights of the Skaftafell National Park. Svartifoss is flanked by black hexagonal basalt columns, that have inspired the icelandic architects, most notably in the Hallgrímskirkja church in Reykjavík, and also the National Theatre.
The dynamic range between the waterfall and the sky was extremely high, thus I had to shoot 5 bracketed pictures with 2 stops exposure difference between each other. I used photomatix to tonemap the resulting HDR file.
Press "L" to see it large on black.
Location
Ganh Da Dia is a small area of interlocking basalt columns sitting at the coast of Tuy An District, Phu Yen Province, Vietnam, which is about 600 km from Ho Chi Minh City. The special rock formation comprises of round and pentagon dishes, stacking on top one another hence its name "Ganh Da Dia" means dish rock promotory in vietnamese. According to scientists, this extrusive volcanic rock was a result of an ancient volcanic eruption, caused by the fast cooling of lava at the surface of the sea. There is another site like this in Ireland and that is the Giant's Causeway.
Time
I arrived before sunrise at 4:00 am when it was still dark. There was a rain on the night before and I was worry that the sun might not come out due to lots of clouds in the sky. However, it finally started to glow and the sunrise was nothing short of a fantastic light show.
Techniques
2-stop hard step grad ND filter for darkening the brighter sky and bringing it into balance with the darker foreground rock.
Circular polarizer filter for increasing the overall color saturation and controlling the reflection on the wet rock.
Hyperfocal distance focusing at 1.6m for fullframe 16mm at f/5.6
Single file captured in raw and processed in Lightroom.
Reynisfjara black sand beach, Iceland
From the beach you have a view to the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. These bizarre looking rock pillars are said to be petrified trolls that were caught outside at sunrise and frozen in time, but some strongly believe that they’re actually basalt columns that were once part of the extensive shoreline cliffs that remained standing while other parts were battered down by the ocean. Whichever story you choose to believe, they’re a sight to behold ;)
Kirkjugolfid, The Church Floor; east of Kirkjubaejarklaustur village, Iceland
The basalt columns were formed when lava cooled and contracted, cracking the rock. When this happened, the lava broke apart evenly, creating the distinctive hexagonal shape.
Panská skála rock, Prácheň, Czech Republic.
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INFO:
"Panská skála rock: National natural monument (NNM) – so-called “rock organ” situated near the village of Prácheň close to Kamenický Šenov. This rock formation consists of mostly vertical basalt columns (pentagonal or hexagonal in shape). In the 19th and 20th centuries, basalt columns were mined in the area. After the mining was discontinued, the mine pit was filled with rainwater to create a small lake, which is now a part of the NNM. The Panská skála rock has been a protected rock formation since 1895, which makes it the oldest geological preserve in the country. It is accessible for both hikers and cyclists." (Source: www.ceskesvycarsko.cz/)
The Giant's Causeway, made of basalt columns, is cool to look at; I just wish all the dang people would get out of the way!
(During our visit in August 2019 for Worldcon)
Panská skála rock, Prácheň, Czech Republic.
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INFO:
"Panská skála rock: National natural monument (NNM) – so-called “rock organ” situated near the village of Prácheň close to Kamenický Šenov. This rock formation consists of mostly vertical basalt columns (pentagonal or hexagonal in shape). In the 19th and 20th centuries, basalt columns were mined in the area. After the mining was discontinued, the mine pit was filled with rainwater to create a small lake, which is now a part of the NNM. The Panská skála rock has been a protected rock formation since 1895, which makes it the oldest geological preserve in the country. It is accessible for both hikers and cyclists." (Source: www.ceskesvycarsko.cz/)
On Iceland's South Coast lies a stretch of coast with black beaches. At first glance some of these pictures look like they are in black and white. The beaches in Iceland don't tend to be used for sunbathing, but in some ways they are much too beautiful for that anyway.
The Chimney Stacks - weathered low columns created by the displacement of basalt boulders.
The Giant's Causeway (known as Clochán an Aifir or Clochán na bhFomhórach in Irish and tha Giant's Causey in Ulster-Scots) is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption.
It is located in County Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the town of Bushmills.
It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, and a national nature reserve in 1987 by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.
The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven or eight sides. The tallest are about 12 metres (39 ft) high, and the solidified lava in the cliffs is 28 metres (92 ft) thick in places.
Much of the Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site is today owned and managed by the National Trust and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland.
Around 50 to 60 million years ago, during the Paleogene Period, Antrim was subject to intense volcanic activity, when highly fluid molten basalt intruded through chalk beds to form an extensive lava plateau. As the lava cooled, contraction occurred. Horizontal contraction fractured in a similar way to drying mud, with the cracks propagating down as the mass cooled, leaving pillar-like structures, which are also fractured horizontally into "biscuits". In many cases the horizontal fracture has resulted in a bottom face that is convex while the upper face of the lower segment is concave, producing what are called "ball and socket" joints. The size of the columns is primarily determined by the speed at which lava from a volcanic eruption cools.
The extensive fracture network produced the distinctive columns seen today. The basalts were originally part of a great volcanic plateau called the Thulean Plateau which formed during the Paleogene.
According to legend, the columns are the remains of a causeway built by a giant.
The story goes that the Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool), from the Fenian Cycle of Gaelic mythology, was challenged to a fight by the Scottish giant Benandonner. Fionn accepted the challenge and built the causeway across the North Channel so that the two giants could meet. In one version of the story, Fionn defeats Benandonner. In another, Fionn hides from Benandonner when he realises that his foe is much bigger than he. Fionn's wife, Oonagh, disguises Fionn as a baby and tucks him in a cradle. When Benandonner sees the size of the 'baby', he reckons that its father, Fionn, must be a giant among giants. He flees back to Scotland in fright, destroying the causeway behind him so that Fionn could not follow.
Across the sea, there are identical basalt columns (a part of the same ancient lava flow) at Fingal's Cave on the Scottish isle of Staffa, and it is possible that the story was influenced by this.
We spent a bit over a week exploring southern France. From Lyon, to the Alps, then through Provence before wrapping up in the Ardeche.
These photos are from that trip.
For licensing or usage requests, please reach out directly.
Basalt columns rise 20m above Jacksons Creek at Keilor in the Organ Pipes National Park near Melbourne.
Cline River Photography, Photo by Edwina Podemski.
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