Spider Rock, Canyon de Chelly, Arizona
Posted on 06/20/2005 2:10:48 PM PDT by cogitator
Variations on a theme (I like themes):
Spider Rock, Canyon de Chelly, Arizona
Bicentennial Column, Ogle Cave, New Mexico
** ping **
I think they were both used in Clint Eastwood movies. Spider Rock in "The Eiger Sanction", and the other in "The Gauntlet"
You're right about Spider Rock and "The Eiger Sanction", not sure about "The Gauntlet" (I'd be very impressed if you're correct). The "similarity" to which I alluded was more general.
:) ?
Well, that's true, (and I realized that my initial comment was pretty vague). The "similarity" concerns their status in the record books, at least in terms of finding references to them on the Web. Thanks for being interested!
I probably goofed by making my comment on the other thread...
Both are columns, though they were created differently. Spider Rock was probably created by erosion, although that's a curious circumstance given the apparent composition.
The Bicentennial Column looks to have been created as a tradtional stalactite/stalagmite formation, with mineral deposits left by trickling water over the ages.
Yes, and they are both (according to the Web) very special columns in their respective locations (i.e., surface and subterranean), because...
Well, shoot, looks like I'm going to have to go do some googling...
Right off the bat, I'd say size. I believe Spider Rock may be the largest free-standing spire of it's kind above ground.
Please add me to your Geology Pictures of the Week ping list! Thanks!
You're on the right track. Thanks for your interest!
i would be suprised if spider rock isn't the remains of a lava tube. It looks like around it is a collapsed lava cave, making it more striking.
they're so talllll?
Seriesly, though. I love Canyon de Chelly. Made a recent trip to Carlsbad, too. But it's been so dry that most of the pools were empty.
Ack - don't forget to close yer tags!
Pretty much right. Spider Rock is the tallest free-standing rock column in the world; Bicentennial Column was referred to on the Web as the second-tallest cave column in the world. However, a bit more Googling indicated that Bicentennial Column is probably not #2, but somewhere between 4-6 in this category, because there are some extraordinary tall ones listed in China. (~70 meters vs. the 38m height of Bicentennial Column). Still, a 115-foot cave column is pretty impressive.
The Carlsbad area is just plain amazing. There are so many caves and so many features there. I'd never heard of Ogle Cave before I did this picture search.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.