Magnificent Monoliths! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mexico

It is difficult to measure the height of a monolith, however, Peña de Bernal is considered to be one of the tallest in the world. Formed during the Jurassic period, it is believed by some to be have been three times taller than its modern height of 433 m (1,421 ft).

Answer: Rock of Gibraltar

The Rock of Gibraltar is a popular attraction due to its network of tunnels, and nature reserve, which is home to approximately 300 Barbary macaques. Because it is made of limestone, it is slowly dissolving. This process has created more than 100 caves over time. The Barbary macaques that live on the Rock are the only population of wild monkeys in Europe.

Answer: El Capitan

Consisting almost entirely of granite, the El Capitan monolith was created by periods of glaciation that occurred over a million years ago. It was named in 1851 by members of a California militia group, Mariposa Battalion, who explored the valley. It is a popular site for rock climbers and BASE jumpers, who leap from a fixed structure.

Answer: Chile

Also called the Towers of Paine, the granite monoliths were shaped by glaciation. Because no accurate surveys of the monoliths have been made, the heights of the monoliths, called the South Tower of Paine, Central Tower of Paine, and North Tower of Paine are estimates. The South Tower of Paine, at 2,850 m (9350 ft), is considered to be the tallest of the three.

Answer: Squamish

Officially called Stawamus Chief Mountain, the 700 m (2297 ft) granite dome is located near the town of Squamish, British Columbia. Formed over 100 million years ago, there are actually three summits - First Peak, Second Peak, and Third Peak - that form "The Chief".

There are rugged hiking trails that lead to each summit; Squamish Chief is considered to be a world-class rock climbing venue.

Answer: Devils Tower

According to the Kiowa and Lakota Indian tribes, Devils Tower was created when some young girls, chased by giant bears, climbed on top of the rock and prayed to the Great Spirit to save them. The Great Spirit caused the rock to rise to the heavens, while the bears, in an attempt to climb the rock, left claw marks, which still appear today, down the side. Geologists do not agree on the details about how the rock was actually formed; some believe that it is all that is left of a once-active volcano, while others say it is the volcanic plug, or the neck of what is left of the extinct volcano.

Answer: Lion

King Kasyapa chose the monolith as the site of his palace in the 400s. About halfway up the side of the rock there is a small plateau, where a gateway in the form of a lion was made. Meaning "Lion Rock", Sigiriya was abandoned as a seat of government after the king's death, and was taken over as a Buddhist monastery until the 1300s.

Answer: Sugarloaf Mountain

Sugarloaf, a granite and quartz monolith, was named in the sixteenth century for its resemblance to the clay conical molds that sugar was placed in before being transported by ship. The granite, which forms the top, was formed approximately 450 million years ago, while the quartz underneath dates to about 600 million years ago.

Answer: Abuja

Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. Sometimes referred to as the "Gateway to Abuja", Zuma Rock rises approximately 725 m (2379 ft) above its surroundings. It has been used in the past by the Gbagyi people as an area for defensive retreat against neighboring tribes.

Answer: Northern Territory

Uluru is a large sandstone formation near the town of Alice Springs in Northern Territory. Measuring 348 m (1,142 ft) high and 9.4 km (5.8 mi) in circumference, it is considered to be the highest monolith in the world. We are looking forward to watching it change colors, both at sunrise when it is a fiery red and at sunset when it turns a bluish-violet.