2011
NS4074 : Columnar jointing at Dumbarton Rock
taken 14 years ago, near to Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Columnar jointing at Dumbarton Rock
As the lava within the original volcano cooled, it contracted and cracked, and joints formed at right angles to the cooling surface, creating roughly hexagonal columns. Such columns are conspicuous here at the eastern end of the Rock. The picture was taken from NS4074 : Castle Road.
At lower water, examples can be seen on the other side of the Rock: NS3974 : Dumbarton Rock: western side of the base.
Compare the jointing visible in NS5778 : Dunglass (detail); Dunglass is another volcanic plug.
Better-known and more spectacular examples of columnar jointing are Fingal's Cave (see NM3235 for images) and the Giant's Causeway (see C9444).
At lower water, examples can be seen on the other side of the Rock: NS3974 : Dumbarton Rock: western side of the base.
Compare the jointing visible in NS5778 : Dunglass (detail); Dunglass is another volcanic plug.
Better-known and more spectacular examples of columnar jointing are Fingal's Cave (see NM3235 for images) and the Giant's Causeway (see C9444).
Dumbarton Rock and Castle
The Rock is a volcanic plug, and it has a long history as a fortified site. For further information, see the Geograph article "Dumbarton Rock and Castle": Link
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TIP: Click the map for more Large scale mapping
- Grid Square
- NS4074, 248 images (more nearby 🔍)
- Photographer
- Lairich Rig (more nearby)
- Date Taken
- Thursday, 15 December, 2011 (more nearby)
- Submitted
- Thursday, 22 December, 2011
- Subject Location
-
OSGB36:
NS 4010 7447 [10m precision]
WGS84: 55:56.1966N 4:33.6871W - Camera Location
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OSGB36: NS 4013 7447
- View Direction
- WEST (about 270 degrees)
