Posted on 07/04/2005 2:03:22 AM PDT by Thinkin' Gal
Photo shows rubble left after the collapse of one of the largest rock stacks
of one of Australia's most recognisable landmarks, the Twelve Apostles
rock formation in the Southern Ocean and visible from the
Great Ocean road in Victoria.(AFP)
SYDNEY (AFP) - One of Australia's most famous sights, a set of 12 peaks which sit in the sea off the Victorian coast and are known as the Twelve Apostles, has been irrevocably damaged with the collapse of one of its limestone pillars.
After withstanding the pounding of the sea for an estimated 6,000 years, the 45-metre (150 yard) rock pile tumbled into a collection of rocks and debris on Sunday morning before a bewildered Sydney family.
The collapse was accompanied by a noise compared to a loud wave.
"They said it sort of shimmered or shuddered and then fractured and collapsed straight down on itself -- it was almost like a building demolition," a spokesman for Parks Victoria told the Daily Telegraph.
"All that remains now is quite a substantial pile of rubble, about 10 metres above sea level."
The collapsed pillar was one of the bigger rock formations and "integral to what used to be the view," he added.
The Twelve Apostles are giant rock stacks of varying heights in the Southern Ocean which began forming 20 million years ago when erosion gradually began whittling away the limestone cliffs of Port Campbell.
It was Rufus, the 13th Apostle. Poor guy never did get a break...
The Apostles voted on Mathais and he was never heard from again. Christ selected Paul as the replacement and he had a rather distinguished "career" as an Apostle. I think Christ choose the better replacement.....
(not really)
Well, global warming, then.
Usually works the other way. I won't be surprised to see some article giving the height as 45.732 metres
If only Kerry been president this wouldn't have happened. He had a plan, a secret plan that he would have explained after the election.
On a more serious note... things change. Nature tend to do that. Only humans have the idiotic notion that we can keep everything exactly as it is. Ever wonder why the indians never built villages on cliffs over looking the ocean? Because even they were smart enough to know how the cliff got there in the first place.... A chunk fell off.
The lost Apostle appears to be conservative.... it leans to the right.
Gravity sucks.
Yeah, that's my fault. I was running my air conditioner, the frige, a fan and I was driving my car a hunnert miles an hour. Plus I was smoking a big cigar and drinking a beer. And eating a big cheeseburger. With bacon. And mayonaise.
Engineers should love the challenge of re-creating the events and stresses that lead up to the collapse.
It just seems ripe for a Study Grant
Somebody oughtta sue! Erosion marches on!
". . .has been irrevocably damaged with the collapse of one of its limestone pillars."
You'd think they would have made them better. Don't they have unions or anything to enforce construction standards?
"And so castles made of sand...fall into the sea...eventually..."
Oh my! Carbon dioxide and methane!
A bump for a fallen apostle.
"One down, eleven to go. ......"
Seems like the perfect place to aim a constant webcam. Start a long term betting pool.
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