This is a granite landscape composed of stone columns more than 5 m tall with straight edges that are in isolation or in clusters. Some researchers call it a ‘granite stone forest landscape’. Uniform rock properties, close and parallel horizontal joint sets and relatively widely spaced vertical joint sets are favourable conditions for the development of this type of landscape. The intense congelifraction that occurs at the low temperatures at high elevations and the resulting ice cracking are the main external forces that have caused its formation. Many stone columns appear in comb-like arrays at elevation, some stand separately, most have angular edges, and a few are arc-shaped as a result of wind abrasion. The Hexigten Banner Global Geopark in Inner Mongolia is an example of this landscape (Fig. 45).
Stonehenge granite landscape of Hexigten, Inner Mongolia
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(2020). Stonehenge Granite Landscape – Hexigten Banner Type. In: Chen, A., Ng, Y., Zhang, E., Tian, M. (eds) Dictionary of Geotourism. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2538-0_2342
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2538-0_2342
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