Amazingly Balanced Rocks Around the World - 25

The balanced rocks are a geological formation created due to wind/water erosion or glacial melting. These precariously balanced rocks are wonder of the nature and to a viewer it looks that these would topple by a gentle human push or a wind force. However most of these rocks have remained steadfast for past several thousand years though some were vandalised and pushed over. To some scientists these rocks are a sign of seismic stableness of the location.

This post is part of the series about these awesome and breath-taking rocks around the world. List giving links to individual rocks can be seen here and a combined big page showing all the rocks can be viewed here.

Giant Mushroom Rock, Hala-'l Badr, Saudi Arabia

A large unusually balanced rock in the Hala-'l Badr Volcanic Region, Saudi Arabia. Hala-'l Badr is a dormant volcano on the northeast corner of the Thadra table mountain in the al Jaww basin and there are many geological features in this area. No information is available about this rock but it is amazing to see such a large volume (and mass) supported on a narrow pedestal. Any information about this rock will be appreciated.

Interestingly many scholars and authors have advocated equating Mt. Sinai with Hala-'l Badr. (Source: Wikipedia)

Image from Google Maps Photos is by فارس الخيال

Credits: I am thankful to syzygy - A very active member of Google Earth Community Forum for bringing this balanced rock to my knowledge.

View location in Google Earth / Google Maps

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Ancient Megalith With Laser Cut?

Al Naslaa is an amazing megalith on the outskirt of Tayma oasis in north-western Saudi Arabia.

Amazing feature of this megalith is that it has a very precise vertical split in its middle, as if it has been cut with some modern tool like a laser beam. The two pieces of the stone have a gap of only few centimetres and remarkably each of these two massive pieces are precariously balanced on very small base.

In addition to the vertical split, one side of the stones is very smooth with Petroglyph and Hieroglyphics markings on it.

Discovered in 1883, it has remained a mystery stone till date, with theories about its origin ranging from natural phenomenon to extraterrestrials or use of some advanced technology by some lost race.

Most of the geologists however are of the opinion that it is a natural phenomenon caused either by slight subsidence of one of the two supports or by erosion of fault at the divide.

A very plausible explanation from ancient-origins.net;

"Geologists who have examined the fracture say that it was probably formed when the ground beneath it was offset, causing the rock to split apart. It has also been suggested that it could be an old fault line. The rock material near faults tends to become weakened and erodes more easily. As sand blew into the cracks of the rock over the ages, this material may have been more rapidly eroded than the surrounding sandstone, resulting in the fracture."

Tayma has a long history of settlement and the area is archaeologically rich. May be some day some finding can prove beyond doubt about the origin of this amazing megalith.

Image from Flickr is by Chien Hung

The megalith as seen from other side.

Image source: programacontactoconlacreacion.blogspot.com

Based on image from IndoCropCircles.com (shown below) it's height would be at least 6 metres (20 feet), if not more.

Petroglyphs and Hieroglyphics on the smooth surface;

Image from Flickr is by Chien Hung


Source of info and more info and images;

• saudi-archaeology.com has a high resolution Gigapan zoom-able picture
• ternyata.id (In Indonesian) (English Translation)
• ancient-origins.net
• indocropcircles.wordpress.com (In Indonesian) (English Translation)

View location in Google Maps / Google Earth

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