Cliff 181897 224317540 2008-07-08T09:08:42Z Martarius 4905985 /* Large and famous cliffs */ removed unnecessary lines {{otheruses}} {{redirect|Precipice|the Battlestar Galactica episode|Precipice (Battlestar Galactica)}} [[Image:Trango Towers 2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[Trango Towers]] in [[Pakistan]]. Their vertical faces are the world's tallest cliffs. Trango Tower center; Trango Monk center left; Trango II far left; Great Trango right.]] <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:The Stonyman summit.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A view from the top of a cliff: The stonyman summit at [[Shenandoah Valley]] [[Virginia]]]] --> In [[geography]] and [[geology]], a '''cliff''' is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as [[erosion]] [[landform]]s due to the processes of erosion and [[weathering]] that produce them. Cliffs are common on [[coast]]s, in [[mountain]]ous areas, [[escarpment]]s and along [[river]]s. Cliffs are usually formed by [[Rock (geology)|rock]] that is resistant to [[erosion]] and [[weathering]]. [[Sedimentary rock]]s most likely to form [[sandstone]], [[limestone]], [[chalk]], and [[dolomite]]. [[Igneous rock]]s, such as [[granite]] and [[basalt]] also often form cliffs. An [[escarpment]] (or scarp) is a type of cliff, formed by the movement of a [[geologic fault]], or a [[landslide]]. Most cliffs have some form of [[scree]] slope at their base. In arid areas or under high cliffs, these are generally exposed jumbles of fallen rock. In areas of higher moisture, a [[soil]] slope may obscure the talus. Many cliffs also feature [[tributary]] [[waterfall]]s or [[rock shelter]]s. Sometimes a cliff peters out at the end of a ridge, with [[tea table]]s or other types of rock columns remaining. Given that a cliff need not be exactly vertical, there can be ambiguity about whether a given slope is a cliff or not, and also about how much of a certain slope to count as a cliff. (For example, given a truly vertical rock wall above a very steep slope, one could count only the rock wall, or the combination.) This makes listings of cliffs an inherently uncertain endeavor. The highest cliff (rock wall, mountain face) in the world, is [[Nanga Parbat]] in the Himalayas, that rises 4600 meters above its base. According to some sources, the highest cliff in the world, about 1,340 m high, is the east face of [[Trango Towers|Great Trango]] in the [[Karakoram]] mountains of northern [[Pakistan]]. (This uses a fairly stringent notion of cliff, as the 1,340 m figure refers to a nearly vertical headwall; adding in a very steep approach brings the total height to over 1,600 m.) The highest sea cliffs, 1,010 m high, are located at [[Kalaupapa, Hawaii]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Highest Cliffs |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=47602 |accessdate=2006-05-02 |publisher=Guinness World Records}}</ref>. (This uses a less stringent definition, as the average slope of these cliffs is about 1.7, corresponding to an angle of 60 degrees.) Considering a truly vertical drop, [[Mount Thor]] on [[Baffin Island]] in [[Arctic]] [[Canada]] is the highest at 1,370 m (4,500 ft) high in total (the top 480 m (1,600 ft) is overhanging). This is said to give it the longest purely vertical drop on Earth at 1,250 m (4,100 ft). Given that walking over a cliff could be fatal, the [[Ordnance Survey]] distinguish between cliffs (continuous line along the top edge with projections down the face) and outcrops (continuos line along lower edge). [[Image:Nanga Parbat 045b.jpg|thumb|left|750px|[[Nanga Parbat]], highest cliff (rock wall, mountain face) in the world]] [[Image:Mount Thor.jpg|thumb|right|275px|[[Mount Thor]], [[Baffin Island]], [[Nunavut]], [[Canada]], the highest purely vertical drop on Earth]] ==Large and famous cliffs== [[Image:Baintha Camp Near Snow Lake.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Baintha Brakk (The Ogre) near [[Snow Lake, Pakistan|Snow Lake]], [[Pakistan]]]] [[Image:Ireland cliffs of moher2.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The [[Cliffs of Moher]] in [[Ireland]]]] [[Image:Ruskeala park.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Cliffs near [[Sortavala]], [[Russia]]]] [[Image:Miranda scarp.jpg|thumb|Close-up view of [[Verona Rupes]], a 20 km high [[fault scarp]] on [[Miranda (moon)|Miranda]], a moon of [[Uranus (planet)|Uranus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=54819|title=Natural world: the solar system: highest cliffs|publisher=[[Guinness World Records]]|accessdate=2006-08-05}}</ref>]] The highest cliff in the [[solar system]] may be [[Verona Rupes]], an approximately 20 km (12 mile) high [[fault scarp]] on [[Miranda (moon)|Miranda]], a moon of [[Uranus (planet)|Uranus]]. The following is an incomplete list of cliffs of the world. (see also [[:Category:Cliffs]]) ===Asia=== [[Image:Pulput rock.jpg|right|thumb|[[Preikestolen]] not far from [[Stavanger]], [[Norway]].]] * [[Masada]], [[Israel]] , [[Dead Sea]] '''Above Land''' * [[Trango Towers]], [[Baltoro Muztagh]], [[Northern Areas]], [[Pakistan]] * [[Uli Biaho|Uli Biaho Towers]], [[Baltoro Glacier]], [[Northern Areas]], [[Pakistan]] * [[Baintha Brakk]] (The Ogre), [[Panmah Muztagh]], [[Northern Areas]], [[Pakistan]] * [[Latok|The Latok Group]], [[Panmah Muztagh]], [[Northern Areas]], [[Pakistan]] * Various cliffs in the Ak-Su Valley of [[Kyrgyzstan]] cliffs are high and steep. ===Europe=== '''Above Sea''' *[[Cape Enniberg]], [[Faroe Islands]], 750 m above [[North Sea]] *[[Croaghaun]], [[Achill Island]], [[Ireland]], 668 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Vixía Herbeira]], [[Northern]] [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], [[Spain]], 621 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Preikestolen]], [[Norway]], 604 m above [[Lysefjorden]] *[[Slieve League]], [[Ireland]], 601 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Cabo Girão]], [[Madeira]], 589 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *Conachair, [[St Kilda, Scotland|St Kilda]], [[Scotland]] 427 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *St John's Head (Hoy Orkney Islands Scotland) at 335m is the most vertical sea cliff in the UK *[[Hangman cliffs]], [[Devon]] 318 m above [[Bristol Channel]] is the highest sea cliff in [[England]] *[[Dingli Cliffs]], [[Malta]], 250 m above [[Mediterranean sea]] *[[Cliffs of Moher]], [[Ireland]], 217 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Cap de la Nau]], [[Spain]], 200 m above [[Mediterranean sea]] *[[Beachy Head]], [[England]], 162 m above the [[English Channel]] *[[Snake Island]], [[Romania]], 41 m above the [[Black Sea]] *[[Møns Klint]], [[Denmark]], 143 m above [[Baltic Sea]] *[[White cliffs of Dover]], [[England]], 100 m above the [[Strait of Dover]] *[[Strunjan cliff]], [[Slovenia]], 80 m above the [[Jadran sea]] '''Above Land''' *[[Troll Wall]], [[Norway]] 1100 m above base *[[Mięguszowiecki Szczyt]] north face rises to 1043 m above [[Morskie Oko]] lake level, [[High Tatras]], [[Poland]] *[[Kjerag]], [[Norway]] 984 m. *[[Mały Kieżmarski Szczyt]] (north face), [[Tatra Mountains]], [[Slovakia]] about 900 m denivelation (vertical rise) *[[Giewont]] (north face), [[Tatra Mountains]], [[Poland]], 852 m above '''Polana Strążyska''' [[Glade (geography)|glade]] *[[Kazalnica Mięguszowiecka]], [[Tatra Mountains]], [[Poland]] 576 m above the [[Czarny Staw pod Rysami]] *[[Great north faces of the Alps|The six great north faces of the Alps]] ([[Cima Grande di Lavaredo]], [[Eiger]], [[Grandes Jorasses]], [[Matterhorn]], [[Aiguille du Dru|Petit Dru]] and [[Piz Badile]]) ===North America=== [[Image:Yosemite El Capitan.jpg|thumb|200px|Southwest face of El Capitan from [[Yosemite Valley]]]] * [[El Capitan]], [[Yosemite Valley]], [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]], [[California]], [[United States]]; about 900 m (3,000 ft) high * Northwest Face of [[Half Dome]], near [[El Capitan]]; 1,340 m (4,400 ft) total, vertical portion about 610 m (2,000 ft) * All faces of [[Devils Tower National Monument|Devil's Tower]], [[Wyoming]], [[United States]] * Various faces of [[Shiprock]], [[New Mexico]], [[United States]] * The North Face of [[North Twin Peak]], [[Rocky Mountains]], [[Alberta]], [[Canada]] * [[Mount Thor]], [[Baffin Island]], [[Canada]]; 1,370 m (4,500 ft) total; top 480 m (1,600 ft) is overhanging. This reputedly gives it the largest purely vertical drop on Earth at 1,250 m (4,100 ft). * [[Mount Asgard]], [[Baffin Island]] * Painted Wall in [[Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park]], [[Colorado]], [[United States]]; 685 m (2,250 ft) * The west face of [[Notch Peak]] in southwestern [[Utah]], [[United States]]; a limestone cliff of about 670 m (2,200 ft) * All walls of the [[Stawamus Chief]], [[Squamish]], [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]] * [[Calvert Cliffs State Park|Calvert Cliffs]] along the [[Chesapeake Bay]] in [[Maryland]] ===South America=== [[Image:Salto Angel from Raton.JPG|thumb|200px|[[Salto Angel]] from [[Raton]].]] * Auyan Tepui ([[Angel Falls]]), about 1000 m (the falls are 979 m, the highest in the world) * All faces of [[Cerro Torre]], [[Patagonia]], [[Chile]]-[[Argentina]] * All faces of [[Cerro Chalten]] (Fitz Roy), [[Patagonia]], [[Argentina]]-[[Chile]] * Various faces of the [[Torres del Paine]] group, [[Patagonia]], [[Chile]] ===Africa=== '''Above Sea''' *[[Kogelberg]], [[Western Cape]], [[South Africa]], 1289 m above [[False Bay]], [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Table Mountain]], [[Cape Town]], [[Western Cape]], [[South Africa]], 1086 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Twelve Apostles]], [[Cape Town]], [[South Africa]]. A series of 17 precipitous peaks ranging from ca 700m to 1067m above the [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Risco de Faneque]], [[Gran Canaria]]-[[Canary Islands]], [[Spain]], 1027 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Guguy's Cliffs]], [[Gran Canaria]]-[[Canary Islands]], [[Spain]], 725 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[La Mérica]], [[La Gomera]]-[[Canary Islands]], [[Spain]], 711 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Andén Verde]], [[Gran Canaria]]-[[Canary Islands]], [[Spain]], 690 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Karbonkelberg]], [[Western Cape]], [[South Africa]], 653 m above [[Hout Bay]], [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[La Peña's Cliffs]], [[El Hierro]]-[[Canary Islands]], [[Spain]], 652 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Los Gigantes]], [[Tenerife]]-[[Canary Islands]], [[Spain]], 637 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Chapman's Peak]], [[Cape Town]], [[South Africa]], 596 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Macizo de Anaga|Anaga's Cliffs]], [[Tenerife]]-[[Canary Islands]], [[Spain]], 592 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Risco de Famara]], [[Lanzarote]]-[[Canary Islands]], [[Spain]], 580 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Buenavista's Cliffs]], [[Tenerife]]-[[Canary Islands]], [[Spain]], 546 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Cape Hangklip]], [[Western Cape]], [[South Africa]], 453.1 m above [[False Bay]], [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Punta Gaviota's Cliff]], [[La Palma]]-[[Canary Islands]], [[Spain]], 435 m above [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[The Sentinel]], [[Western Cape]], [[South Africa]], 331m above [[Hout Bay]], [[Atlantic Ocean]] *[[Cape Point]], [[Western Cape]], [[South Africa]], 249m above [[Atlantic Ocean]]. '''Above Land''' *[[Drakensberg]] [[Amphitheatre]], [[South Africa]] 1200 m above base, 5km long. The [[Tugela Falls]], the world's second tallest waterfall, falls 948m over the edge of the cliff face. * [[Mount Meru, Tanzania]] Caldera Cliffs, 1500m * [[Klein Winterhoek]], [[Western Cape]], [[South Africa]], 1220m above base. ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Cliffs|*]] [[Category:Coastal geography]] [[cs:Útes]] [[da:Klint]] [[de:Abhang]] [[eo:Klifo]] [[es:Acantilado]] [[et:Kalju]] [[fr:Falaise]] [[gl:Cantil]] [[he:צוק]] [[io:Klifo]] [[id:Tebing]] [[it:Scogliera]] [[nl:Klip]] [[ja:崖]] [[ko:절벽]] [[nds:Klint]] [[pl:Urwisko]] [[pt:Falésia]] [[sk:Horský útes]] [[sl:Klif]] [[uk:Скеля]] [[pt:falésia]] [[zh:悬崖]]