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A balancing rock, also called a balanced rock, precariously balanced rock (PBR), or precarious boulder, is a naturally occurring geological formation featuring a large rock or boulder, sometimes of substantial size, resting on other rocks, bedrock, or on glacial till. Some formations known by this name only appear to be balancing, but are in fact firmly connected to a base rock by a pedestal or stem.
No single scientific definition of the term exists, and it has been applied to a variety of rock features.
Categories
Types of feature that the term has been applied to include:
- Glacial erratic
- A boulder that was transported and deposited by glaciers or ice rafts to a resting place on soil, on bedrock, or on other boulders. It usually has a different lithology from the other rocks around it. Not all glacial erratics are balancing rocks; some are firmly seated on the ground. Some balancing erratics have come to be known as rocking stones, also known as logan rocks, logan stones, or logans, because they are so finely balanced that the application of just a small force may cause them to rock or sway. A good example of a rocking stone is the Logan Rock in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom; another is the Trembling Rock in Brittany, France.[1]
- Perched block
- Also known as a perched boulder or perched rock, this is a large, detached rock fragment that most commonly was transported and deposited by a glacier to a resting place on glacial till, often on the side of a hill or slope. Some perched blocks were not produced by glacial action, but were the aftermath of a rock fall, landslide, or avalanche.[2]
- Erosional remnant
- A persisting rock formation that remains after extensive wind, water, and/or chemical erosion. To the untrained eye, it may appear to be visually like a glacial erratic, but instead of being transported and deposited, it was carved from the local bedrock. Many good examples of erosional remnants are seen in Karlu Karlu/Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve in the Northern Territory of Australia.
- Pedestal rock
- Also known as a rock pedestal or mushroom rock, this is not a true balancing rock, but is a single continuous rock form with a very small base leading up to a much larger crown. Some of these formations are called balancing rocks because of their appearance. The undercut base was attributed for many years to simple wind abrasion, but is now believed to result from a combination of wind and enhanced chemical weathering at the base where moisture would be retained longest. Some pedestal rocks sitting on taller spire formations are known as hoodoos.
Notable balancing rocks
Africa
Zimbabwe
- The balancing rocks of Zimbabwe are a series of geological formations found in Zimbabwe. The Balancing Rocks of Epworth are famous for being featured on the nation's banknotes, including those issued during periods of hyperinflation, such as the Zimbabwean 100 trillion dollar note, one of the highest denomination banknotes ever issued.
- The Mother and Child balancing rocks are a well-known feature in Matobo National Park.
Mother and Child balancing rocks, Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe
The Balancing Rocks of Epworth on the Zimbabwe $100 trillion note
Asia and Australia
Australia
- Karlu Karlu/Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve is a vast field of erosional remnants.
India
- Krishna's Butterball is a huge boulder located in Mahabalipuram of Tamilnadu in India. It is situated on a steep rock surface. It is a local tourist attraction.[3]
- The Balancing Rock of Mawlynnong is near the village of Mawlynnong in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. It is known as Maw Ryngkew Sharatia and is a tourist attraction.[4]
- The Balancing Rock at Appukal village, Vellore district at Tamilnadu. This formation shows marked resemblance the balancing rock formation present in Zimbabwe. This rock formation appears like a bird and a baby alligator from specific angles.
- A balancing rock is located near Madan Mahal fort in Jabalpur city of Madhya Pradesh.[5]
- A balancing rock, popularly known as Mama Bhagne, is situated in Dubrajpur on the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the state of West Bengal.[6]
Krishna's Butterball in Mahabalipuram, India
Balancing rock near Madan Mahal Fort, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
Myanmar
- The boulder, which gleams golden and popularly known as the Golden Rock on which the small Kyaiktiyo Pagoda has been built, is about 25 ft (7.6 m) in height and has a circumference of 50 ft (15 m). The boulder sits on a natural rock platform that appears to have been naturally formed to act as the base to build the pagoda.
Philippines
- The Magpupungko limestone rock formation in Pilar, Siargao, which is also famous for its tide pools. The name "Magpupungko" means "the one who sits", from the root word pungkò ("to sit in a squatting position").[7]
Vietnam
Europe
England
- The Brimham Rocks are a group of outstanding pedestal rock formations in North Yorkshire.
Finland
- Kummakivi is a balancing rock located in Ruokolahti.[10]
Kummakivi in Haukonsalo, Ruokolahti, Finland
Poland
- Chybotek – granite balancing rock in Giant Mountains
- Chybotek – granite balancing rock in Jizera Mountains.
Chybotek, Giant Mountains, Poland
Spain
- Pedra de abalar – granite balancing rock in Muxía (Pedra da barca)
- El Tornillo (The Screw), El Torcal de Antequera, Antequera.
- Pena do Equilibrio – Giant granite balancing rock resulting from spheroidal weathering, located in Ponteareas (Pontevedra, NW Spain).
- El Tormo Alto, Ciudad Encantada, Cuenca.
A mushroom rock, Ciudad Encantada
Norway
- Kjeragbolten, Norway
North America
Canada
- Nova Scotia
- A tall basalt stack appears to balance precariously above the water near Digby, Nova Scotia.
- British Columbia
- Located near Bear Beach on the Juan De Fuca Trail, this solid rock is perched upon eroded sandstone.
The Balancing Column near Digby, Long Island, Nova Scotia
United States
- Arizona
- Varias rocas con forma de pedestal se encuentran dentro de los límites del Monumento Nacional Chiricahua , y dos son fácilmente accesibles en Marble Canyon , entre Navajo Bridge y Lee's Ferry . [ 11 ]
- California
- En el Parque Estatal DL Bliss, en la orilla oeste del lago Tahoe , se puede observar fácilmente una gran roca en equilibrio .
- Colorado
- Una enorme roca de arenisca cuelga precariamente cerca de la carretera en el parque Garden of the Gods, cerca de Colorado Springs .
- Idaho
- Balanced Rock se encuentra al sur de Buhl en el cañón de Salmon Falls Creek ; creada hace unos 15 millones de años y compuesta de lava riolítica , mide 2,4 metros (8 pies) de altura, pesa 30 toneladas (27,215 toneladas métricas) y se asienta sobre un pedestal de 0,395 metros cuadrados (3 pies por 17 pulgadas ) . [ 12 ]
- Maine
- Un bloque errático glacial descansa al borde de un precipicio en una montaña del Parque Nacional Acadia .
- Balance Rock , una roca junto al sendero costero en el centro de Bar Harbor .
- Massachusetts
- En Balance Rock Park, en el Bosque Estatal de Pittsfield , un campo de enormes rocas que los glaciares en retroceso dejaron en una ladera está coronado por Balance Rock , una roca gigantesca que se equilibra de forma casi increíble sobre una roca más pequeña que sobresale del suelo.
- Oregón
- Un sitio cerca del lago Billy Chinook es conocido como Balancing Rocks o como Metolius Balancing Rocks. [ 13 ] [ 14 ]
- Nuevo Méjico
- En varios lugares del estado, incluidos Bisti Badlands , el Monumento Nacional Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks , el Área Silvestre Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah , el Parque Nacional Chaco Canyon , el Parque Estatal Red Rock , y en terrenos privados y públicos administrados por la Oficina de Administración de Tierras (BLM) en todo Nuevo México .
- Nueva York
- Balanced Rock en North Salem, en el condado de Westchester , Nueva York. Se trata de un bloque errático glacial que descansa firmemente sobre otras cinco rocas que apuntan hacia arriba. La propia Balanced Rock es un granito rosa muy erosionado que no es originario de la zona, sino que se encuentra más al norte, en las Tierras Altas del Hudson.
- Carolina del Norte
- La Cabeza del Diablo es una gran roca situada en la cornisa de un acantilado en el Parque Estatal Chimney Rock , en Carolina del Norte.
- Texas
- Balanced Rock (also called Window Rock) is a large boulder suspended between two pedestals in the Grapevine Hills of Big Bend National Park.
- Utah
- One of the most visited formations in the United States is the Balanced Rock in Arches National Park.
- Washington
- A large glacial erratic is at the south end of Omak Lake in Okanogan County, known as the Omak Rock.
- Wisconsin
- Located in Devil's Lake State Park. A big rock near the top of a trail with the same name with a view on the lake.
Pinnacle Balanced Rock, Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Balanced Rock, Big Bend National Park, Texas
Balanced Rocks, Marble Canyon, Arizona
Balanced rocks atop the Sphinx in Bisti Badlands, Northwest New Mexico
A pedestal rock, Chicken Corners trail, near Moab, Utah
Omak Lake Balancing Rock, Washington
Mexican Hat Rock, near Mexican Hat, Utah
Mexico
- Zacatecas
- At Sierra de Organos National Park in the municipality of Sombrerete there are two balancing rocks near each other.
Sierra de Organos National Park in Mexico
South America
Argentina
- The Piedra Movediza was a balancing rock located close to the city of Tandil, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Its weight was about 300 tons, and its pedestal was so thin it moved with the wind. It attracted attention and tourists because of the way it was balanced on the edge of a cliff. The stone fell and broke on 29 February 1912, possibly due to human intervention. A replica of the stone was put in place in 2007.
See also
References
- ↑Emery, Andy (26 October 2023). "Glacial erratics". AntarcticGlaciers.org. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ↑Haddad, David. "Nature's Balanced Seismometers". Retrieved 18 February 2010.
- ↑"Krishna's butter ball – A Balancing Rock at Mahabalipuram". Mystery of India. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
- ↑"Balancing Rock". Trawell. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ↑"Balancing Rock near Madan Mahal, Jabalpur – Picture of Balancing Rocks, Jabalpur – TripAdvisor". www.tripadvisor.com. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
- ↑"Mama-Bhagne Hills – Amazingly balancing rocks of Dubrajpur". Get Bengal. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ↑Groves, Jackson (7 January 2019). "Magpupungko Rock Pools: Siargao's Natural Infinity Pools". Journey Era. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ↑vi:Đá Ba Chồng
- ↑vi:Hòn Chồng và Hòn Vợ
- ↑"Karrta Paikka" (in Finnish). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
- ↑"Glen Canyon/Rainbow Bridge Park Guide 2013". National Park Service. 2013. Archived from the original on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
- ↑"What to do at Balanced Rock Park". 16 December 2021.
- ↑Gentzler, Corbin (20 August 2014). "Go Here: Balancing Rocks". Source Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ↑"Nature on an even keel at Oregon's Balancing Rock". 25 May 2023.
External links
- Waymarking: Nature's Balanced Rocks
Category:
- Rock formations