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The amazing Balancing Rock near Digby Neck in Nova Scotia is a narrow vertical column of basalt that appears to defy gravity.
Located off the western extremity of the Isle of Wight is The Needles, a row of three stacks of chalk that rise about 30 m (98 ft) out of the sea. The rocks and lighthouse have become icons of the island and feature on numerous souvenirs.
So named for its resemblance to a giant surfacing cetacean, Whale Rock, found off the Azores island of Graciosa, forms part of Ponta da Barca bay.
The relentless pounding of waves over thousands of years has resulted in this mushroom-shaped rock, known as the Kannesteinen Rock, which can be admired at Måløy, near Vågsøy.
The Tasmania Painted Cliffs on Maria Island are composed of patterned limestone and form part of the Maria Island National Park.
One of Thailand's most famous natural wonders looms out of Phang Nga Bay near what's popularly known as James Bond Island, named after the film 'The Man with the Golden Gun,' part of which was filmed here in 1974.
Pigeon's Rocks, also known as the Rock of Raouché, is a well-known limestone outcrop just offshore from Beirut's Corniche esplanade.
Sarakiniko Beach on Milos Island is backed by white volcanic rock worn smooth over centuries by the Mediterranean wind. In places the area resembles a moonscape.
The giant marine sinkhole known as the Great Blue Hole is a part of the larger Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rim of the hole is limestone in origin.
Hong Kong's High Island cliffs are composed of towering hexagonal columns formed 140 million years ago from the lava flows of vast underground volcanoes. Imagine a huge antique pipe organ and you start to get the picture.
Formed as a result of tidal erosion, the Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick are often referred to as the Flowerpot Rocks due to their resemblance to indoor pot plants.
Ponte de Piedade (Point of Pity) near the Algarve town of Lagos is celebrated for its scenic sandstone sea stacks, caves, and arches, which make for exciting exploration by boat.
The picture-perfect Arch of Cabo San Lucas marks the southern tip of Cabo San Lucas, itself the end of the Baja California Peninsula.
Kangaroo Island is pocked with a collection of granite boulders known as The Remarkable Rocks—enormous rock formations sculptured over millions of years by the wind and waves coming off the Indian Ocean.
An exclusive destination, Anse Source d'Argent is one of the most photographed beaches on the planet, not least for the curvaceous granite boulders that rest against a carpet of dazzling white sand.
The limestone arch called Durdle Door is one of the most recognized coastal rock formation in the United Kingdom. It's located at Lulworth, in the county of Dorset.
See also: The most amazing caves on the planet.
Found along the northwest shore of the Hawaiian island of Kauai is Honopu Arch, a dramatic landmark set within the Honopu Valley and part of the Nā Pali Coast State Park.
The three chalk formations, including a stack and a stump, located at Handfast Point, on the Isle of Purbeck, are collectively known as Old Harry Rocks. They're supposedly named after Harry Paye, an infamous local pirate.
The mysterious Moeraki Boulders lying along a stretch of Koekohe Beach between Moeraki and Hampden on South Island resemble a group of petrified giant sea turtles.
Comprising an area of around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, Giant's Causeway in County Antrim is a well-known UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A much-photographed natural wonder, the Benagil cave system in southern Portugal's Algarve region draws visitors from across the country and beyond.
The Yehliu Geopark encloses the Yehliu Cape, a distinctive feature of which is the odd-looking hoodoo stones that dot its surface.
Aphrodite's Rock, also known as Petra tou Romiou, is a sea stack in Paphos. According to legend, the rock is the birth site of the goddess Aphrodite.
Great Pollet Arch in County Donegal is Ireland's grandest rock arch, carved out over centuries by the restless Atlantic Ocean.
Pictured is the Arch Rock on Anacap Island, part of the Channel Islands archipelago, located off Port Hueneme, California.
Standing at 46 m (150 ft), Candle Rock, located out at sea 12 km (7.5 mi) northwest from Yoichi town, is a familiar local landmark.
The Cyclopean Islands off the eastern coast of Sicily are recognized for their rows of basalt columns piled one above another. Pictured is the landmark Faraglioni dei Ciclopi.
Playa de las Catedrales ("The Beach of Cathedrals") features a series of spectacular caves and arches, and is a popular Galicia tourist attraction.
One of the tallest stacks in the United Kingdom, Old Man of Hoy in Orkney towers 137 m (449 ft) into the sky and is popular with climbers.
Wind and wave erosion over thousands of years has created some amazing rock formations along the world's coastlines. These natural wonders made up of sea stacks, arches, columns, and sometimes entire islands are destinations in themselves, and some have even achieved UNESCO World Heritage status. So, where are these places that rock, and why are they so unique?
Click through the following gallery and discover the greatest rock stars on the planet.
Where to find the weirdest and most spectacular coastal rock formations
How nature has defined the world's coastlines
TRAVEL Environment
Wind and wave erosion over thousands of years has created some amazing rock formations along the world's coastlines. These natural wonders made up of sea stacks, arches, columns, and sometimes entire islands are destinations in themselves, and some have even achieved UNESCO World Heritage status. So, where are these places that rock, and why are they so unique?
Click through the following gallery and discover the greatest rock stars on the planet.