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| "The Rock" Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelfowler/4517004501/ | |
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Monaco has many interesting Land forms. Perhaps the most famous is "The Rock of Monaco" which is located on the Mediteranin cost of Monaco. This monolithic formation was created by the exposition of the hard igneous rock through erosion.
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| Rock climbing in Monaco Image from http://www.coronn.com/TOPOS/france/ |
Monaco also has a great rock climbing scene which is made ideal by the Joints and cracks found in the rocks. These are cracks created by weathering that create space within it. Most of the weathering in these rocks is most likely created by salt weathering which is indicated by isolated white streaks in the rock surface. We can also see the root wedging weathering process as well which separates the rocks particles as the plant grows and the roots expand with it.
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| Basal Weathering Image from http://www.coronn.com/TOPOS/france |
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| Basal Weathering Image from http://www.coronn.com/TOPOS/france |
Basal weathering creates an overhanging rock formations which are great challenges for climbers. These are NOT created by wind but by salt weathering. The water containing the salt percolates to the bottom of the rock and crystallizes or expands there creating more breakout at the bottom of the rock. If we cook closely at the second picture we can also see Alveoli that are finger size corrosions in the rock which are also formed by weathering of the rock.
