Places near me Random place
All Australia Cervantes The Pinnacles

The Pinnacles

Alien rock formations grown from the sands of an Australian national park.

Cervantes, Australia

Added By
Dusk
The Pinnacles.   Jakub Michankow/cc by 2.0
  Hetha / Atlas Obscura User
  Hetha / Atlas Obscura User
  Hetha / Atlas Obscura User
The Pinnacles.   Binarysequence/cc by-sa 3.0
The Pinnacles   Andrzej Kulka/cc by-sa 3.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Pinnacles are an irregular grouping of limestone towers located in coastal Australia's Nambung National Park.

These bright rocky plinths were formed slowly over millions of years as ocean winds blew small sand particles over sea shells, eventually forming lumpy limestone foundations. As the millennia drifted by the foundations grew into the crags which still exist today. Many of the pinnacles stand over 10 feet tall and are a popular attraction for tourists looking to set foot on alien soil without ever leaving the Earth.    

Related Tags

Nature National Parks Natural Wonders Geological Oddities Deserts Rock Formations Martian Landscapes Ecosystems Geology

Community Contributors

Added By

Dusk

Published

August 28, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources

Nearby Places

Explore the Destination Guide

Related Places

  • A mud pot.

    Iceland

    Námafjall

    In Northeastern Iceland lies something of an oxymoron: a steaming desert.

  • Fairy Glen, as viewed from Castle Ewan.

    Isle of Skye, Scotland

    Fairy Glen

    This dramatic landscape hidden on the Isle of Skye looks as though you've stepped into the magical realm.

  • “Chicken and mushroom” rock formations.

    Egypt

    White Desert

    An alien landscape of chalk-rock in the Egyptian desert.

  • Looking Glass Rock seen from the Looking Glass Rock Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway

    Brevard, North Carolina

    Looking Glass Rock

    This granite rock face is named for the magnificent reflection that occurs when the sun hits it just right.

  • RV tracks

    Wadi Rum Village, Jordan

    Wadi Rum

    Known as the "Valley of the Moon," this Jordanian wadi is one of the most amazing desertscapes on Earth.

  • The Smoking Hills, as seen from the sea.

    Inuvik, Unorganized, Northwest Territories

    The Smoking Hills

    These hellish-looking cliffs in the Canadian Arctic have been burning for centuries.

  • Factory Butte with morning light.

    Torrey, Utah

    Factory Butte

    A striking, menacing sandstone peak towering above a landscape that's equal parts Mordor and the Moon.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member