The Painted Cliffs of Maria Island

The beautifully patterned sandstone rocks of Painted Cliffs are 1 of Maria island’s nearly pop attraction. The mountainous isle located inward the Tasman Sea , off the due east coast of Tasmania , Commonwealth of Australia , was 1 time a penal colony for convicts who committed offences against the French colonists. Today , the entire isle in addition to the body of body of water or in addition to thence is a national common sum of birds , animals in addition to marine life.

The Painted Cliffs are located at the destination of Hopground beach. The wonderful patterns on the exposed rocks along the shore were caused yesteryear basis H2O percolating downwardly through the porous sandstone rocks in addition to leaving traces of Fe oxides , which accept stained the stone formation. The regular patterns of blood-red , orangish in addition to yellowish bands in addition to rings are due to fractures , joints in addition to layers acquaint inside the sandstone.

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Photo credit: www.abc.net.au

The Fe inward the groundwater in all probability came from 2 prominent hills known equally Bishop in addition to Clerk in addition to Mt. Maria , located at the highest indicate of Maria island. These peaks are composed of iron-rich dolerite rocks that weathered over millions of years agone when the climate was monsoonal , contributing to the iron-oxide staining on the Painted Cliffs.

Aside from the painted patterns , weathering of the rocks yesteryear common salt crystal from sea spray accept created a beautiful honeycomb pattern. Rock fragments moved or in addition to thence yesteryear the H2O accept gradually worn minor potholes in addition to notches into the cliff confront , eventually resulting inward the undercutting of the cliff.

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