Photos

The earth has many interesting and varied geological features, and the hexagonal basalt columns are one of my favorites. California's Devil's Postpile was created by a lava flow about 100,000 years ago at a depth of 400 feet. The large mass of lava cooled slowly and evenly creating the unique hexagon columns. Later glacial erosion wore down its size and left behind columnar rubble.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the federal govenment decided the basalt columns would make a fine hydroelectric dam across the nearby San Joaquin River. Fortunately prominent Californians went on the defensive to prevent this stupidity and the federal government put its dam plan on hold. In 1911 Californians convinced President Taft to make the area a National Monument to protect it.

The Monument and the surrounding area have numerous hiking trails and a spectacular waterfall, Rainbow, a short saunter away. Located beyond Mammoth Village near Highway 395, Eastern Sierra Nevada.

Here's a list of other famous basalt columns around the earth:
Columnar Cape on Kunashir, Russia's southernmost island
Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland
Fingal's Cave in Scotland
Garni Gorge in Armenia
Cyclopean Isles near Sicily
Devil's Tower National Monument in Wyoming
Sheepeater Cliff in Yellowstone Park, Wyoming
Basalt Prisms in Hidalgo, Mexico
Gilbert Hill in Mumbai
Organ Pipes National Park in Australia
Organ Pipes formation on Mount Cargill, New Zealand