Top 7 Biggest Rocks In The World

Rocks are naturally formed, and when we talk about the biggest rock in the world, we are referring to stone monoliths. They can be found pretty much anywhere and everywhere you go ranging from a relatively small size to as big as the eye can see.

Some of these rocks are as huge as a mountain but they can also be in the form of boulders or towers. There is a broad term by which these massive rocks can be considered monoliths. Here we would like to share with you the top 7 biggest rocks in the world that will leave you in awe.

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7. Sigiriya (201 Meters)

This is one of Sri Lanka's popular destinations as the Sigiriya landmark is a granite monolith that boasts 201 meters above the ground in the center of the country. The king of Sri Lanka, Kassapa I constructed his castle and palace on this very monolith in the 5th century.

The frescoes, tiled staircase, and historic garden located in the vicinity have been preserved on this rock as a museum. Visitors can witness for themselves the long staircase to reach the top of the monolith.

6. El Peñón de Guatapé (220 Meters)

El Penon de Guatape can be found in Colombia and it is a granite-type monolith that is 220 meters above the Embalse Penol-Guatapé lake. According to geologists, the rock's feature is due to the absence of surface fissures.

As water seeped into cracks in the rock, the granite nearby is likely to have eroded over time. This rock monolith has become a hotspot for tourists worldwide and you can travel to this location which is around 2 hours from Medellín.

You can climb to the top of the rock with the stairs that have been built on the side which will gain you access to the monolith's summit. You can also find a gift shop at the top of the rock with an observatory tower to look at the views.

5. Devils Tower (264 Meters)

Northeast Wyoming is home to this giant monolith known as the Devil's Tower which rises 264 meters from the base of its summit. The land area of the top is similar to the size of a football pitch but in order to reach the summit, one must have the climbing skills to reach the top.

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For those who don't know, Devils Tower is part of the Devils Tower National Monument and its first ever in the US. It was officiated by the former president of the US, Theodore Roosevelt back in 1906.

4. Peña de Bernal (432 Meters)

Based on the estimation, Pea de Bernal is known to be the tallest freestanding monolith in the world at a height of 432 meters from its base. It can be found in the town of San Sebastian Bernal in Mexico.

Since this rock monolith holds so much historical value as well as its geological position, the surrounding area has been protected by the government. Pea de Berma is a volcanic plug or sometimes known as molten magma that has hardened inside the volcano.

This volcano is thought to be inactive for millions of years and has since eroded over time. You can also visit a chapel that is halfway to the top along a hiking track. You can definitely test your climbing skills here.

3. Ben Amera (618 Meters)

Ben Amera happens to be the tallest monolith in Africa and can be found on the western edge of the Sahara Dessert in Mauritania. It is approximately 618 meters tall and unlike other rock monoliths, this one does not have any paved road leading to its base.

Due to how hot the weather is here, there are not many tourists visiting here and as the desert around it slowly erodes this rock could potentially be bigger in the future.

2. El Capitan (1,097 Meters)

Being one of the biggest rocks in the world, El Capitan is a monolith that rises around 1097 meters above the Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park. It definitely stands out due to its considerable size but is sometimes known as a mountain range too.

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It has been the best place for many rock climbers out there as climbers congregate in the valley every summer to set up camp and begin their expeditions. The climbers will usually spend days sleeping in tents strung by ropes before reaching the summit.

1. Uluru (348 Meters)

Some of you might be thinking how Uluru is at the top of the list considering its lower height compared to other monoliths on this list. Uluru is known to be the biggest rock in the world due to how massive the area size is as it is also 2.2 miles long and 1.5 miles wide.

Uluru is the nation's most iconic landmark and a sacred location for Aboriginal Australians. The Uluru is part of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. According to geologists, Uluru is the eroded point of a rock slab that spans kilometers below the surface.

Source:

• Kumparan

Also read: Top 6 Deepest Lakes In The World