Throughout the planet we can know various geomorphological formations of different origins. Some of these formations have a peculiarity that makes them quite interesting to know. Today we are going to talk about fairy chimneys. It is formation is made of soft rock whose origin is sedimentary.
In this article we are going to tell you what are fairy chimneys and what are their main characteristics.
What are fairy chimneys
They are geomorphological structures created from soft rock of sedimentary origin. They are normally found in areas such as deserts, arid areas, regions with a dry and warm climate and have a very variable size. And it is that there are fairy chimneys that can measuring from a few meters to the height of a 10-story building. It all depends on the minerals and rocks that are deposited in it. There are numerous types of rocks and minerals that can be put in this chimney and that makes them vary in color.
Among the most famous fairy chimneys in the world are the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, Turkey, and those in Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah, USA). All of them are famous for their peculiar shapes. Throughout history, these natural columns have been the source of many legends and superstitions. In ancient cultures, these columns were thought to have a significance beyond a simple geological formation.
Legends and superstitions
One of the fairy chimneys that has a quite interesting legend is the one found in Cappadocia. This tells a legend in which the region was inhabited by men and fairies, hence its name. Legend has it that by the either of both species, mixed unions were prohibited. This was a precept that wasn't fully respected. A man and a fairy fell so deeply in love that they could no longer renounce their feelings or hide them. So the queen of the fairies decided on a drastic solution. The solution was to turn all the fairies who fell in love into doves. Thus, she deprived men of the ability to see them forever. The man's only hope was to take care of the doves as a way of caring for his fairy.
In Spain, we can find some fairy chimneys in the Ebro Valley, specifically in the area of the Cinco Villas region of Aragon. They are also found in the Alto Gállego region of Aragon, in a place named Señoritas de Arás; in the Campo de Daroca region, in Biescas; and in the Bárdenas Reales desert, in Castildetierra. These formations are a draw for those seeking to discover the characteristic fairy chimneys.
In order to get to know the fairy chimneys we have to analyze long walks, but they are worth getting to. Many people go hiking and take the opportunity to spend the whole day surrounded by nature and in a place close to these famous geological formations.
Origin of fairy chimneys
Geology is a science that is not only responsible for studying the past and the geological formations that took place in other times, but also studying the events that occur today and that continue to originate and transform the relief day by day. Rainfall is one of the main agents in charge of transforming the landscape. Rainfall is capable of generating continuous erosion that transforms the landscape as we know it. The fact that the landscape is transforming and eroding allows these peculiar geological forms to emerge.
Fairy chimneys are formed from the union of many raindrops that form a constant flow of water. This constant flow of water is maintained for a short period of time. When small rivulets form due to surface runoff, they descend all over the slope and remain ruts in them. These grooves are called gullies. According to the pronunciation of gullies and the nature of the terrain and slope can give rise to fairy chimneys.
For fairy chimneys to form, soft soil is required, surface runoff must generate deep gullies, and this runoff must be sustained over time. It should be noted that these unique forms occur most frequently in less solid materials. To better determine where a fairy chimney can be created, choose sandy areas protected at the top by harder rocks. This way, water erodes the lower part of the soil and not the upper part.
Runoff water carries away materials from the sides, resulting in increasingly elongated cylindrical shapes. These geomorphological forms eventually resemble the chimneys of the Segovia fire pits. If we analyze them on a small scale, we can see that this morphology is usually only a few centimeters in size. Typically, quartzite pebbles are found at the top of fairy chimneys. Quartzite is a fairly resistant mineral. This prevents erosion at the top, allowing the fairy chimney to form.
Not only the rain has a fundamental role in the origin of the fairy chimneys. Wind is also an erosive agent that acts on these geomorphological formations on a large scale. We are going to analyze the most peculiar structures that are several meters long and that have different tones in the rock. These formations are the product of different materials that have been deposited in the rock during erosion. In other words, as the soil was being created as a result of the deposition of sediments, the wind had a strong importance.
As you can see, these formations have an interesting history behind them and a unique origin. I hope that with this information you can learn more about fairy chimneys.