Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by mindgrow

Stuibenfall Waterfall was created about 8000 – 9800 years ago during the glaciers melting. At that time there was a thawing of permafrost which moved the huge masses of rock. The stream Horlachbach was created after a landslide of approximately 3 billion cubic meters of rocks from the Tauferberg area to Horlachtal valley. There was thus created a large water reservoir from which the water broke the way and thus created a Stuibenfall Waterfall.

You still can see the rocks, which originally formed the dam of the lake. Stuibenfall Waterfall is 159 meters high an it is therefore the highest waterfall in Tyrol and the fourth highest in Austria.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by äquinoktium

Stuibenfall Waterfall is easily accessible from the village Umhausen, where you can also visit the archaeological park of Ötzi Dorf (Ice Man Village). The whole trip is also suitable for the children and take approximately 3 hours. If you still want to visit the archaeological park, be prepared for an hour and a half more. Stuibenfall Waterfall is open all year round for free.

Large paid car-park is available at Ötzi Dorf. At the Stuibenfall Waterfall there is also climbing arena available. It is 450 m long hedged way, that leads just at the left side of the waterfall. Reportedly it is also suitable for the children from 10 years and older.

View Stuibenfall – the highest waterfall in Tyrol Austria in a larger map

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Durdle Door, Dorset, England, UK by W. Lloyd MacKenzie

The vast majority of Durdle Door is composed of limestone which is why over the centuries it has slowly eroded away to form the arch. Its mammoth size however has led to its popularity over the years. Countless people have made their way to Durdle Door and to enjoy the English countryside.

The limestone rock formation has appeared in a number of music videos over the last few decades which have increased its popularity. One of the more popular videos is the Tears for Fears’ Shout video which was filmed on location in and around Durdle Door. Also, Pink Floyd fans have seen an image of the rock formation in the lyric books supplied with every “The Division Bell” album sold.

The rock that the Durdle Door is composed of stretch for great distances in every direction. They can be found hundreds of meters inland as well as out in the sea. Those who visit the Durdle Door will also be able to see the Bull which is located just off shore. This has been determined to be a continuation of the rock that the door itself is made of.

Durdle Door, Dorset Coast, England, UK by W. Lloyd MacKenzie

While there are many things to see and do in England, many people make the choice to head out into the countryside to get as far away from the hustle and bustle of life in London. While there are many great attractions in the capital city, some of the best destinations in the country are not.

There are countless castles and other ruins of days gone by that can be found in and around the area where the Durdle Door is located. The area known as the Jurassic Coast is one of the more popular destinations in the country.

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The area where the Needles can be found is known as the Jurassic Coast. It is here that the land has been folded as a result of tectonics over the course of millions of years. As a result, the almost vertical strands of rocks can be seen throughout the region. Chalk is one of the more resilient rocks and as a result has continued to stand long after the clays and sandstones have washed away.

The Needles, Isle of Wight, UK by Peter Pearson

It was known that back in the beginning of the eighteenth century, there were four needles in the formation. However, in 1764 a storm ravished the area and knocked over one of the rocks. The name the Needles dates back hundreds of years. Today though, the rocks have lost their needle-like appearance as a result of erosion by the waves.

Another popular attraction in the area is the Needles Lighthouse which was built back in 1859. It has been operational ever since. However, in order to reduce costs and manpower, the lighthouse was automated back in 1994.

There is also an amusement park that can be found on a nearby cliff that over looks the geological land formation. Known as the Needles Pleasure Park, it has grown to become a very popular destination in the area. The park is most well known for the chairlift that takes people to Alum Bay and back.

The headlands that overlook the Needles are home to several gun batteries as well as an experimental testing facility for rockets. While the batteries were in use during the 1950s and 60s, they have long since been decommissioned. The rocket test facility is located mostly underground and was operated by as many as 240 people during the 1960s. Part of the underground facilities have been completely restored and are currently open to the public.

There are a number of old Coastguard cottages that can be found in the area. Now under National Trust, the cottages are available for rental throughout the year. People who wish to have a party in the area, or that would like to visit and stay can rent the Coastguard cottages.

Most of the park and surrounding countryside can be travelled using bicycle or on foot. However, when there is a high wind warning in the area, the site where the batteries are located is closed for safety reasons.

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There is somewhere between 100 and 150 of these naturally occurring pyramids which are built through thousands of years of glacial erosion. Atop of them one can find mammoth sized rocks which are the reason that the pillars first started to form. As the years went on, more of the land was worn away below the rocks resulting in some of the pillars towering more than 130 feet above the ground.

Ritten Earth Pillars, Italy by Internet Consulting

Eventually, as the pillar is work down below the point where it can continue to support the weight of the rock, it simply collapses. While these naturally occurring pillars of earth can be caused by a number of weathering processes, the ones just outside of Ritten, Italy were as a result of the glacier that had once covered the valley Ritten sits in today. 10,000 years ago, as this glacier melts with the ending of the last ice age, the pillars began forming and their formation continued long after the last remnants of the glacier melted away.

Today, the Ritten Earth Pillars are a well known and popular attraction throughout Europe. There are also a number of similar sites that can be found throughout the Alps. There is something mysterious about these pillars of clay. Some of the pillars have boulders on top of them that weigh several tons which only adds the enchantment of visiting this natural wonder. Over the centuries Ritten earth pillars have attracted the attention of countless tourists from all over the world. There are many legends that surround the creation of these and many other pillar sites throughout Europe.

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