Karst landscapes
Wondermondo 🢖 Categories of wonders 🢖 Geological wonders 🢖 Rock formations 🢖 Karst landscapes Category Karst landscapes Described karst landscapes What is included in this category? Limestone, dolostone, and gypsum are quite common rocks and cover a major part of the land. These rocks are soluble and, as the water reaches them, sooner or later voids are forming in the rocks – and […]
Rock formations
Wondermondo 🢖 Categories of wonders 🢖 Geological wonders 🢖 Rock formations Category Rock formations Described rock formations What is included in this category? This type of landmarks includes most unusual and interesting rock formations of the world. It may sound simple but it isn’t: this group of monuments tends to grow and grow without end, encompassing diverse seemingly unrelated things. Thus […]
Ikaite tufa columns in Ikka Fjord
Almost unique phenomenon – submarine tufa columns created by cold seeps from submarine springs. Columns are formed of ikaite – an unstable mineral that disintegrates in temperatures above 6 – 7 ° C. In total there are more than 600 such columns up to 18 m tall.
Prohodna
Giant cave – 262 m long passage through the mountain that is world-famous thanks to two openings in the ceiling – so-called "Eyes of God" or "Oknata". The largest entrance in the cave has a height of 42 – 45 metres.
Bala’a sinkhole (Baatara sinkhole) and waterfall
Approximately 255 m deep, nearly vertical cave with waterfall in it. The entrance in the cave is some 70 m deep sinkhole. Here waterfall has percolated one side of sinkhole, creating three natural bridges one above the other. Waterfall disappears underground.
Trou de Fer canyon and waterfalls
Several cascades of streams in Trou de Fer – one of the most magnificent slot canyons in the world. The total height of Bras de Caverne Falls is 725 m, the first step is 210 m high (mostly dry), the next – 180 m high, and the third – 300 m, several smaller steps in between. There are six more very tall waterfalls in the canyon. Lower Bras Mazerin fall is 270 m tall.
Diamond Rock (Le Rocher du Diamant)
175 m high rock – volcanic plug – rising from the Caribbean. At certain times of the day it reflects in the sea and resembles a diamond. This inhospitable and nearly inaccessible rock could be the last refuge of a reptile – Couress grass snake (Liophis cursor). There is a cavern below the water level – it is adorned with sea fans and corals.
Le Trou de David
A former sinkhole at the sea, with two natural arches towards the sea. In calm weather, one could swim into this sinkhole from the sea. Collapsed in December 2011.
The Marble Caves (Cavernas de Mármol)
Unique geological formation – peninsula consisting of pure marble in the beautiful Lago General Carrera has been eroded by the lake water, forming caves, mushroom formations and tunnels in the marble.
Talava Arches and Caves
One of the major sights in Niue: a beautiful cave with three huge natural arches. After entering the cave, there are two exits – one towards the sea with one enormous natural arch visible (approximately 7 m high and 20 – 25 m wide), another – to a sinkhole with two other large natural arches. From the sinkhole are available some more caves. Sinkholes and arches have been formed by the collapse of the cave roofs. First seen by Captain Cook.
