See "Formation of rocks" for processes by which rocks are formed.

Rock formations as used in this article refers to isolated, scenic, or spectacular surface rock outcrops. These are usually the result of weathering and erosion sculpting the existing rock. Rock formation in general refers to specific sedimentary strata or other rock unit in stratigraphic and petrologic studies.

Geologists classify rocks into three types according to their origin. A rock structure can be created in any rock type or combination:-

• Sedimentary rocks are created from bits of rocks that have broken off other rocks by wind or water erosion, and deposited by wind, ice, or water. Erosion later exposes them in their current form. An example is Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah.
• Metamorphic rocks are created by rocks that have evolved into another kind of rock, usually by heat and pressure. An example is Mount Rushmore National Monument in South Dakota.
• Igneous rocks are created when molten rock cools and solidifies, with or without crystallization. They may be either intrusive bodies or volcanic extrusives. Again, erosive forces sculpt their current forms. An example is Iao Needle in Maui, Hawaii.

Geologists have created a number of terms to describe different rock structures in the landscape that can be formed by natural processes:-

• Inselberg is a residual relief feature. It can be an isolated hill, a knob, ridge or small mountain that rises abruptly, like an island, from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain. Inselberg is a German word that means "island mountain". Uluru/Ayers Rock in Australia is a noted example.
• Peak
• Stack
• Mesa
• Butte
• Escarpment
• Gorge
• Sea cliff
• River cliff

Lists of rock formations

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Oceania

• The Olgas, Northern Territory, Australia
• Twelve Apostles, Melbourne, Australia
• Remarkable Rocks, South Australia
• Wave Rock, Hyden, Western Australia
• Murphy's Hay Stacks, Nullarbor Desert, Western Australia
• Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia
• Kata Tjuta,Northern Territory, Australia
• Pinnacles Desert, Nambung National Park, Western Australia
• Devil's Marbles, Northern Territory, Australia
• Truman Track Beach, Punakaiki, New Zealand
• Castle Hill Basin, South Island, New Zealand
• Fatu Hiva, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
• Talava Arches, Niue, South Pacific

Asia

See also: Rock formations in Russia.

• Yoichi, Hokkaido, Japan
• Yeliu, Taiwan
• Tanjong Bunga, Penang, Malaysia
• Jabalpur Marble Rocks, Madhya Pradesh, India
• Face Rock, Deccan, Hyderabad, India
• Sitio Lugsangan, Barangay Tabon, Cebu, Philippines
• Yun Meng Mountains, Beijing, China
• Guilin, China
• Grandfather and Grandmother stone, Ko Samui, Thailand
• James Bond Island, Phang Nga, Thailand
• Halong Bay, Vietnam
• Seorak-san National Park, Sokcho, South Korea
• Taichar Chuluu, Arkhangai Aimag, Mongolia
• Terelj National Park, Gorkhi, Mongolia
• Tanah Lot, Bali, Indonesia

Middle East

• Timna Arch, Eilat, Israel
• Karnei Hittim, Israel
• Pasabagi, Cappadocia, Turkey
• Goreme National Park, Turkey
• Tegherivank, Armenia
• Geghard, Armenia
• Petra, Amman, Jordan
• Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan
• Kuh-E-Namak, Iran
• Elemite Rock, Fars, Iran
• Mahneshan, Zanjan, Iran
• Pigeon Rocks, Beirut, Lebanon
• Sakhret-El-Rawsheh, Beirut, Lebanon
• Gobustan, Azerbaijan
• Aphrodite's Rock, Paphos, Cyprus
• Wadi Dhar, Yemen
• Bani Al Harit, Saana, Yemen

Africa

Algeria

• Tamanrasset
• Tassili Mountains

Angola

• Benguela Province
• Iona, Tombwa

Burkina Faso

• Doumes de Fabedougou
• Pic du Sindou

Cameroon

• Kola Gorge

Egypt

• White Desert

Eritrea

• Decemhare

Kenya

• Tsavo Rocks

Libya

• Akakus Mountains

Madagascar

• Andringitra
• Isalo National Park

Malawi

• Makuzi Beach, Chintheche

Mali

• Massif des Aguilles de Garmi

Mauritania

• Ben Amera

Morocco

• Siroua Mountains
• Tafraoute

Namibia

• Vingerklip, Damaraland
• Waterberg Plateau

Niger

• Geuzzam

Nigeria

• Kamale Pinnacle, Mubi
• Olumo Rock, Abeokuta
• Riyom Rock, Jos

Seychelles

• Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue

South Africa

• Cedarberg Wilderness Area, Western Cape
• Kagga Kamma, Ceres, Western Cape

Sudan

• Burget Tuyur, Selima

Tunisia

• Chebika Rock
• Tamazrat

Zimbabwe

• Domboshava Rocks
• Maleme Dam, Matobos
• Motombo Rock Formations

Americas

United States of America

See Rock formations in the United States.

Canada

See Rock formations in Canada

Caribbean

• Ayo Rock Formations, Aruba
• Casibari Boulders, Aruba
• Guajataca, Puerto Rico
• Virgin Gorda Rocks, British Virgin Islands
• Devil's Trail, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
• Bath's Beach, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
• Coki Beach, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
• Governor's Harbor, Eleuthera, Bahamas
• Tent Bay, Barbados
• Pointe des Chateaux, Grande Terre, Guadeloupe
• Malendure Rock, Basse Terre, Guadeloupe
• Diamond Rock, Torrens Point, Saba, Netherlands Antilles
• Stonehaven Bay, Tobago

Latin America

• Piedras Encimidas Valley, Zacatlan, Mexico
• Copper Canyon, Chihuahua, Mexico
• Los Arcos Rocks, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
• Cerro de Arcos, Loja, Ecuador
• Dali's Desert, Potosi, Bolivia
• Valle de Las Rocas, Uyuni, Bolivia
• Canon de Duene, Bolivia
• Ponta Grossa, Brazil
• Pedro do Jacare, São Paulo (state)São Paulo, Brazil
• Valle de la Luna, Antofagasta, Chile
• Playa de la Calabocillos, Constitucion, Chile
• Bosque del Cabo, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
• Pinnacle Rock, Bartolome Island, Galapagos Islands
• Quebrada de Humahuaca, Humahuaca Argentina
• Ischigualasto, San Juan Province, Argentina
• Cerro Fitz Roy, El Chalten, Argentina
• Amambay, Paraguay
• La Piedra Pintada, Parque Congreso de Abril, Uruguay
• Colca Canyon, Arequipa, Peru
• Tepui, Roraima, Canaima National Park, Venezuela
• Piedras de San Martin, Ciudad de Coro, Venezuela
• Piedra de Penol, Antioquia, Colombia
• Laguna de La Plaza, Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, Colombia

Europe

• Rock formations in France
• Rock formations in Russia
• Rock formations in Ukraine

Others in Europe

Greece

• Sarti, Sithonia
• Samaria Gorge, Crete
• Meteora

Italy

• Il Gargano, Vieste, Apulia
• Palmarola, Sicily
• Valle Seriana, Bergamo, Lombardy
• Golfo di Orosei,Cala Luna, Monte Tiscali, Sardinia

Iceland

• Vestmannaeyjar
• Jokulsa Canyon National Park, Myvatn
• Dimmuborgir, Myvatn
• Dyrholaey
• Eystrahorn, Hvalnes

Denmark

• Bornholm
• Mons Klint, Mon
• Gedser Odde, Gedser
• Stevns Klint,Ostjaellands
• Sangstrup, Djursland

Sweden

• Oland
• Busten, Glaskogens Nature Reserve, Kalleboda
• Stegborgsgarden, Stegborg
• Stenhamra, Uppland

Finland

• Narpes
• Naantali

Norway

• Skude, Beiningen, Haugaland
• Gieranger Fjord
• Nigardsbreen, Jostedal
• Sommaroy, Tromso

Malta

• Dwerja, Gozo
• Dingli Cliffs, Dingli

Spain

• Los Roques de Garcia, Tenerife, Canary Islands
• Las Canades, Tenerife, Canary Islands
• Ciudad Encantada, Cuenca
• Autol, La Roja
• Fuente de los Azulejos, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

Portugal

• Ponta da Piedade, Lagos, Algarve
• Albufeira
• Porto Moniz, Madeira
• Ponta de Sao Lourenco, Madeira

Germany

• Rotenfels, Nahe, Karlsruhe
• Teufelsturm, Elbsandstein
• Wasgau

Switzerland

• Bastei
• Mount Pilatus
• Val dal Botsch

Czech Republic

• Teplice
• Medvedi Stezka, Sumava, Klatovy
• Vrani Skala, Brdy
• Suche Skaly, Turnov
• Hruboskalsko

Slovakia

• Lehotske Skaly, Handlova
• Haligovske Skaly, Stara Lubovna
• Sulov Rocks, Strazovske vrchy
• Dolina Zeleneho Plesa, Vysoke Tatry

Poland

• Sloneczna
• Ciezkowice
• Zielone Wzgorze, Piechowice
• Dolina Koscieliska, Western Tatras
• Dunajec Gorge, Zakopane

Romania

• Lacu Roşu, Transylvania
• Bicaz Gorges, Neamţ County
• Detunatele, Ceahlău
• Cheile Dobrogei, Târguşor

Bulgaria

• Belogradchik Rocks
• Melnik, Sandanski
• Iskar Gorge, Sofia
• Basarbovo Monastery, Rousse
• Sozopol

Gibraltar

• The Rock

Latvia

• Vidzeme
• Pusena Kalns, Bartava

Estonia

• Lake Peipsi
• Vormsi Island

Lists of rock formations by country

• Rock formations in Bulgaria
• Rock formations in Canada
• Rock formations in Denmark
• Rock formations in France
• Rock formations in Greece
• Rock formations in Iceland
• Rock formations in Romania
• Rock formations in Russia
• Rock formations in Slovakia
• Rock formations in Ukraine

Rock formations