Basalt Columns in Svartifoss... by KarmaSong

Photography • Landscape • posted on Sep 04, 2008

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Description

These columns are part of an imposing basaltic vault surrounding the Svartifoss waterfall, located in Skaftafell National Park in the south of Iceland. I'll post the general view some other time probably. For more general info about what basalt columns are, here are what Wikipedia says about them:

"During the cooling of a thick lava flow, contractional joints or fractures form. If a flow cools relatively rapidly, significant contraction forces build up. While a flow can shrink in the vertical dimension without fracturing, it cannot easily accommodate shrinking in the horizontal direction unless cracks form. The extensive fracture network that develops results in the formation of columns. The topology of the lateral shapes of these columns can broadly be classed as a random cellular network. These structures are often erroneously described as being predominantly hexagonal. In reality, the mean number of sides of all the columns in such a structure is indeed six (by geometrical definition), but polygons with three to twelve or more sides can be observed. Note that the size of the columns depends loosely on the rate of cooling; very rapid cooling may result in very small columns, while slow cooling is more likely to produce large columns."

Have a nice day everyone, and more especially all friends and visitors who left their precious comments on my previous post here. Thank you very much for your support...BTW,full-size is best!

Comments (63)

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Meowgli

5:54PM | Thu, 04 September 2008

fascinating texture and contrasts, very appealing image great work!!

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Optiramma

6:01PM | Thu, 04 September 2008

This is a fantastic shot and subject, Karm! The solid power of natural mathematics is astounding, and you captured it strongly. As powerful and dense and massive as it is, just imagine, on an atomic level, it is mostly empty space...this is thought-provoking work, bravo!!!!!

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LudyMelltSekher

7:34PM | Thu, 04 September 2008

Hello my dear friend, Precious and brilliant Phography.Impressive!! Congratulations!! All you artwork is Very Beautiful!! It is a real pleasure to visit your galleryA million stars from me. **(Thanks you very much for you comments) Have a wonderful Thursday,Hug and kiss in Your heart. Luminous Blessings. Ludy

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jocko500

7:38PM | Thu, 04 September 2008

so this is lava . lol looks diff here but then this is the land of ice. super shot

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OrphanedSoul

9:53PM | Thu, 04 September 2008

This is just so incredible - Great info and image!

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MrsRatbag

10:38PM | Thu, 04 September 2008

Surreal and wonderful formations, well captured!

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Minda

10:53PM | Thu, 04 September 2008

wonderful capture and great info jean-luc..very interesting feature...excellent work as always..hugs

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three_grrr

11:59PM | Thu, 04 September 2008

Fabulous textures .. awesome visual!

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Mondwin

3:37AM | Fri, 05 September 2008

Really very creative image...bravissimo!V:DDD.Hugsxx

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delaorden_ojeda

5:35AM | Fri, 05 September 2008

absolutely gorgeous, Jean - Luc, love the abstract forms and textures, the light is really outstandind, bravo my friend !

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clam73

8:33AM | Fri, 05 September 2008

fantastic find, great textures and colors, thanx for sharing my friend!

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Milouv

11:27AM | Fri, 05 September 2008

Un gros plan sur les tuyaux d'orgue de Svartifoss, un site enchanteur.... un de plus. Une excellente idée d'avoir privilégié ces découpes de roche au détriment de la chute d'eau (qui est jolie quand même). C'est comme si j'y étais encore.

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