Definition time. What is a monolith?

Informal surveys suggest that most people intuitively know that notable landmarks like the Rock of Gibraltar and Uluru (Ayer’s Rock) are indeed, monoliths.

So to get briefly technical, a monolith is a single block of stone. The most massive monoliths on the planet inspire awe and wonder in millions upon millions of people every year. For that reason alone, we feature twenty magnificent monoliths right here, right now.

Rock of Gibraltar

The famous promontory on the British overseas department of Gibraltar is home to a Moorish Castle, elaborate cave system and dozens of Barbary Macaques – the last wild primates in Europe.

Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock is a strange geological formation and vital United States National Historic Site in Nebraska. A notable landmark in the pioneer migration era of the 19th century, the monolith is one of the de facto symbols of the Cornhusker State.

Bald Rock

Bald Rock National Park in New South Wales, Australia is home to a massive monolith. Granite Bald Rock is well over 200 million years old and offers incredible panoramic views of dense bushland wilderness.

Bottleneck Peak

The San Rafael Swell of Utah encompasses a rugged canyon landscape of shale, sandstone and limestone. Truly magnificent and popular with wilderness campers and recreation enthusiasts, Bottleneck Peak is perhaps the area’s most remarkable feature.

Scotts Bluff

Another U.S. National Monument in Nebraska that was once a marker on the old Oregon Trail, Scotts Bluff offers many summit trails for those who want to scale a conspicuous state treasure.

Looking Glass Rock

The intrepid few who brave the Appalachian Trail every summer often take a long rest in North Carolina at Looking Glass Rock.

Haystack Rock

A sea stack monolith in beautiful Oregon, 72 m-high Haystack Rock draws scores of people to the Pacific coast and is part of the Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site.

Brandberg Mountain

Namibia has a very unusual and spectacular topography, with a number of exceptional points of interest. Chief among them is the Brandberg Mountain monolith.

Stawamus Chief

Stawamus Chief is a granite monolith in British Columbia, Canada. By some accounts, it ranks second in size in the world and is a mere one hour drive from Vancouver.

Cordillera del Paine

Patagonia, Chile enters the monolith fray with the marvelous Cordillera del Paine of Torres del Paine National Park. Simply spectacular.

Zuma Rock

Though the capital of Nigeria, Abuja, is perhaps not on the mainstream tourist radar, for those who do make it out, titanic Zuma Rock is a must.

Ben Amera

Likewise for Ben Amera in the Western Sahara Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Troubles may haunt the large country but despite the political turmoil, the landscape of Mauritania is magnificent.

Sugarloaf Mountain

What can you say about the most famous natural symbol of Rio de Janeiro? Sugarloaf Mountain is indelible as far as monoliths go and gracefully frames the 2016 Olympic host city.

Pine Mountain

Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park in Victoria, Australia is home to a monolith that dwarfs Uluru in size. Pine Mountain may not have a famous red glow but nonetheless, is huge.

Devils Tower

The state of Wyoming has a rough, picturesque landscape that is just rife with cool geology. Devils Tower is a prominent symbol and notable U.S. National Monument in the state.

Peña de Bernal

With a persistent claim as the second most prominent monolith in the world, Peña de Bernal is a vital pilgrimage point in the historic Mexican state of Querétaro.

El Capitan

The most famous symbol of UNESCO World Heritage Yosemite National Park is the photogenic monolith El Capitan.

Stone Mountain

A spectacular attraction in the state of Georgia, Stone Mountain is a behemoth, with scores of inherent points of interest on the quartz monzonite rock.

Uluru

Together with the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru is the most recognizable natural symbol of Australia and a wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mount Augustus

For sheer size and mass, Mount Augustus is the number one monolith on the planet. But is it worth the 852 km trek north of Perth in Western Australia? Absolutely.

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