Photographer's Note
The Pancake Rocks and Blowholes
The Pancake Rocks that Punakaiki is famous for, are limestone formations that began forming 30 million years ago, when lime-rich fragments of dead marine creatures were deposited on the seabed, then overlaid by weaker layers of soft mud and clay.
The seabed was raised above sealevel by earthquakes to form the coastal cliffs and coastline. The sea, wind and rain have since etched out the soft layers to form the unusual rock formations we see today.
When conditions are right, heavy ocean swells thunder into the caverns beneath the rocks and huge water spouts blast skywards through the blowholes in a truly spectacular sight.
http://www.punakaiki.co.nz/about_punakaiki/
Critiques | Translate
Graal
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 9418 W: 257 N: 3086]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(103040) 2011-08-24 22:54
Hello Sue,
unusual nature. An interesting theme and place. Amazing rocks. Good shot and presentation. View I like.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander
Waylim
(25436) 2011-08-29 23:46
Hello Sue,
Truly, like layers of pancake, now I'm hungry, but my dentist would advise me not to eat these pancake :) I do want to keep my teeth till I'm in my 100's.
Yet, another really unusual landscape and rock formation, thank for sharing, I have not see this place feature here on TE.
Good quality shot even when the light is not ideal with overcast and cloudy sky.
By all mean, it is not the best quality shot, but certainly worth much more attention than 2 comments.
Keep posting and keep up the good work.
Way
rodgerg
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 6182 W: 0 N: 5060]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(55767) 2011-08-30 2:37
Hello Sue,
POV well selected with these very graphic rocks in the FG. This Fg and the large prospect open give a great depht to the image.
Best regards,
Roger
