kb/data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monolith-0.md

---
title: "Monolith"
chunk: 1/1
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monolith"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T07:20:57.896574+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

A monolith is a geological feature consisting of a single massive stone or rock, such as some mountains. Erosion usually exposes the geological formations, which are often made of very hard and solid igneous or metamorphic rock. Some monoliths are volcanic plugs, solidified lava filling the vent of an extinct volcano.
In architecture, the term has considerable overlap with megalith, which is normally used for prehistory, and may be used in the contexts of rock-cut architecture that remains attached to solid rock, as in monolithic church, or for exceptionally large stones such as obelisks, statues, monolithic columns or large architraves, that may have been moved a considerable distance after quarrying. It may also be used of large glacial erratics moved by natural forces.
The word derives, via the Latin monolithus, from the Ancient Greek word μονόλιθος (monólithos), from μόνος (mónos) meaning "one" or "single" and λίθος (líthos) meaning "stone".


== Geological monoliths ==
Large, well-known monoliths include:


=== Africa ===
Aso Rock, Nigeria
Ben Amera, Mauritania
Brandberg Mountain, Namibia
Sibebe, Eswatini
Zuma Rock, Nigeria
Mount Lubiri, Angola
Mount Poi, Kenya
Great Sphinx of Giza
Oruku Rock, Ososo, Edo State, Nigeria


=== Antarctica ===
Scullin monolith


=== Asia ===

Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Gilbert Hill, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Kailasa temple, Ellora, Maharashtra, India
Namakkal Fort, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, India
Malaikottai, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
St. Thomas Mount, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Bellary Fort, Bellary, India
Madhugiri Betta, Karnataka, India
Yana, Karnataka, India
Bhongir, Telangana, India
Ekasila, Warangal, India
Mount Kelam, Indonesia
Mount Pico de Loro, Philippines
Mount Pulumbato, Philippines
Sangla Hill, Pakistan
Savandurga, Karnataka, India
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka


=== Australia ===
Bald Rock, near Tenterfield, New South Wales
Mount Augustus (Burringurrah), Western Australia (NOTE: this is not actually monolith as popularly claimed, but, rather, a monocline)
Mount Coolum, Queensland
Mount Wudinna, South Australia
Pine Mountain, Victoria
Uluru, Northern Territory


=== Europe ===

Kalamos, Anafi, Greece
Katskhi Pillar, Georgia
Levski G., Sofia, Bulgaria
Logan Rock, Treen, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Monolithe de Sardières, Sollières-Sardières, France
Penyal d'Ifac, Calpe, Valencian Community, Spain
Peña de Arcos, Arcos de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain
Peña de los Enamorados, Antequera, Andalusia, Spain (a World Heritage Site)
Rauk, Sweden
Rock of Gibraltar, Gibraltar
Rock of Monaco, Monaco-Ville, Monaco
Rock Cappa, San Luca, Italy


=== North America ===


==== United States ====

Angels Landing, Zion National Park, Utah
Beacon Rock, Columbia River Gorge, Washington
Bottleneck Peak, Sids Mountain, Utah
Castle Rock, Pineville, West Virginia
Chimney Rock, Bayard, Nebraska
Chimney Rock, Chimney Rock, North Carolina
Courthouse and Jail Rocks, Bridgeport, Nebraska
Devils Tower, Wyoming
El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, California
Enchanted Rock, Llano County, Texas
Frog Woman Rock, Mendocino County, California
Great White Throne, Zion National Park, Utah
Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California
Haystack Rock, Clatsop County, Oregon
Looking Glass Rock, Transylvania County, North Carolina
Moro Rock, Sequoia National Park, California
Quincy Quarries Reservation, Quincy, Massachusetts
Scotts Bluff National Monument, Gering, Nebraska
Shiprock, San Juan County, New Mexico
Stone Mountain, Stone Mountain, Georgia
Stone Mountain, Stone Mountain, North Carolina
Tooth of Time, Cimarron, New Mexico
Wolf Rock, Linn County, Oregon


==== Canada ====
Stawamus Chief, Squamish, British Columbia
Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec' ' ' 


==== Mexico ====
La Peña de Bernal, Queretaro; claimed to be the world's third-largest monolith
Las Piedrotas, near the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco.


=== South America ===

Cochamó Valley, Several granitic monoliths, Chile
El Peñón, also known as El Peñol Stone or simply La Piedra, Colombia
Pão de Açúcar, Brazil
Pedra da Gávea, Brazil the world's largest monolith on the coastline
Pedra da Galinha Choca, Brazil
Torres del Paine, Chile


=== Outside Earth ===
Phobos monolith on Phobos
Mars monolith


== Monumental monoliths ==

A structure which has been excavated as a unit from a surrounding matrix or outcropping of rock.

Aztec calendar stone – "Stone of the Sun"
The Church of Saint George in Lalibela, Ethiopia, is one of a number of monolithic churches in Ethiopia.
The vast monoliths which went into the walls of Osaka Castle, Japan.
Coyolxauhqui Stone another Aztec monolith
Ellora Caves – UNESCO World Heritage Site
Great Sphinx of Giza – "The Egyptian Sphinx"
Gommateshwara statue of Bahubali at Sravanabelagola, Carnataca, India
Obelisks – see this article for a list
Ogham stones, inscribed standing stones throughout Ireland
Vishapakar, ancient dragon stones in the Armenian highlands
Runestones
Standing stones
Stelae
Stone circle
Stone of the Pregnant Woman, Baalbek
Stonehenge in present-day England
The Longstones or the Devil's Quoits, Avebury, Wiltshire, England
Architecture of Vijayanagar in present-day south India


== See also ==


== References ==


== External links ==

Regarding Uluru/Ayers Rock and earlier representations of it as the largest monolith: GA.gov.au, ABC.net.au, Wayoutback.com.au