卡尔夫沙马尔斯维克湾玄武岩柱，斯卡吉半岛，冰岛 Basalt columns at Kálfshamarsvík, Skagi Peninsula, Iceland (© Arterra Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo)
卡尔夫沙马尔斯维克湾玄武岩柱，斯卡吉半岛，冰岛 Basalt columns at Kálfshamarsvík, Skagi Peninsula, Iceland (© Arterra Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo)
层层叠叠的岩石 Rockin' those layers
国际岩石日
你觉得岩石只是……岩石吗？这些天然的矿物组合不仅仅只是静静地待在原地，它们是地球地壳的基本组成单位，从石器时代的工具到为现代文明提供动力的矿物，岩石在人类发展史中发挥了重要作用。国际岩石日的设立，正是为了庆祝岩石在自然界及人类社会中的深远影响，激发公众对地质科学的兴趣，并鼓励人们欣赏岩石所展现的自然之美与多样性。
若想直观感受地质作用的壮观场景，冰岛无疑是理想之地。今日图片所示地点为冰岛北部偏远的斯卡格半岛，一处宁静的海湾：卡尔夫沙马尔斯维克。与冰岛著名的黑沙滩不同，这里布满了巨大的光滑鹅卵石，其周边高耸的海崖则清晰记录了该地区火山活动的历史。在这些海崖中，稀有的六边形玄武岩柱展现了火山地质作用的典范。这些看似人工雕琢的对称结构，实则为自然形成的地质奇观。这些玄武岩柱的形成可追溯至约两百万年前，当时大量玄武岩熔岩缓慢冷却，体积收缩并产生裂缝，裂缝逐步演化为规则的几何形状，最终形成近乎完美的六边形岩柱。尽管冰岛火山景观众多，但如此规模与规则性兼具的地貌极为罕见，使这片静谧的海湾显得尤为独特与珍贵。
Iceland for International Rock Day
Do you think rocks are just … well, rocks? These natural mineral combinations have done more than just sit around—they've built the Earth's crust and helped humans shape history. From Stone Age tools to the minerals powering modern civilization, rocks have been essential throughout our journey. International Rock Day celebrates this enduring impact, inviting us to explore the science of rocks, admire their natural beauty, and recognize the rich variety they add to our world.
If you're wondering where to see geology in action, Iceland is a great place to explore. Today's image takes us to Kálfshamarsvík—a secluded cove on the country's remote Skagi Peninsula. Unlike Iceland's famous black sand beaches, this cove's shore is strewn with large, smooth pebbles, while its fiery volcanic past still reveals itself in the towering cliffs. Here, evidence of volcanic activity is on full display in the form of rare hexagonal basalt columns. These sea cliffs are shaped into natural sculptures so symmetrical that they look almost human-made. These striking formations were created around 2 million years ago, when thick basalt lava cooled slowly, contracting and cracking into geometric shapes that form near-perfect hexagons. Though Iceland is full of volcanic marvels, formations like these are rare, making this quiet cove truly remarkable.