Murphy’s Haystacks - Atlas Obscura
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Murphy’s Haystacks

Mortana, Australia

These oddly shaped pink granite formations got their name after being mistaken for massive piles of hay. 

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Once confused for haystacks, this unusual and ancient rock formation is a fascinating site for those undertaking road trips around the Eyre Peninsula. Made from pink granite, the unusual shapes are the result of thousands of years of erosion from wind. This type of formation is known as an inselberg (a German term that translates to “island-mountain”).

According to a sign near the geological formation, a Scottish agricultural expert once saw rocks in the distance and commented on the landowner’s sizeable haystacks. The property the rocks stand on was owned at that time by a man named Denis Murphy.

rock formations rocks geological oddities geology
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