May 26, 2012 at 11:20 am

The Twelve Apostles in Victoria, Australia

by twistedsifter

 

The Twelve Apostles is a collection of limestone stacks off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park, by the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. Their proximity to one another has made the site a popular tourist attraction.

The Apostles are a collection of miocene limestone rock stacks jutting from the water in Port Campbell National Park, between Princetown and Peterborough on the Great Ocean Road. Tourism activities (including helicopter tours) are conducted from a visitor centre, situated on the inland side of the Great Ocean Road; with parking and viewing areas. Parks Victoria classifies the structure as nationally significant, with the area being one of Victoria’s major tourist features; attracting approximately two million visitors a year.

The Apostles were formed by erosion: the harsh weather conditions from the Southern Ocean gradually eroded the soft limestone to form caves in the cliffs, which then became arches, which in turn collapsed; leaving rock stacks up to 45 metres (148 ft) high. The site was known as the Sow and Piglets until 1922; after which it was renamed to The Apostles for tourism purposes. The formation eventually became known as the Twelve Apostles, despite only ever having nine stacks.

The stacks are susceptible to further erosion from the waves. On 3 July 2005, a 50 metre tall stack collapsed, leaving eight remaining. The rate of erosion at the base of the limestone pillars is approximately 2 cm per year. Due to wave action eroding the cliff face existing headlands are expected to become new limestone stacks in the future. [Source: Wikipedia]

 

 

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Sunset at Twelve Apostles

Photograph by Yuru Prokopenko

 

 

 

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12 Apostles - Port Campbell, Victoria

Photograph by Tahni Maree

 

 

 

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12 Apostles HDR

 

 

 

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the twelve apostles victoria australia The Twelve Apostles in Victoria, Australia

Photograph by Sergey Rumyantsev

 

 

 

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12 Apostles National Park, Victoria, Australia

Photograph by Ray Mosley

 

 

 

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the 12 apostles victoria australia The Twelve Apostles in Victoria, Australia

Photograph by Thomas Enguehard

 

 

 

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twelve apostles victoria australia The Twelve Apostles in Victoria, Australia

Photograph by Diceman

 

 

 

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12 Apostles National Park, Victoria, Australia

Photograph by Ray Mosley

 

 

 

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Sunrise at Twelve Apostles

 

 

 

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12 Apostles

Photograph by James Penner

 

 

 

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Twelve Apostles

 

 

 

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the twelve apostles victoria australia The Twelve Apostles in Victoria, Australia

Photograph by Richard Mikalsen

 

 

 

 

 

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