Old Man of Hoy, Sea stack near Rackwick Bay, Orkney Islands, Scotland
Old Man of Hoy is a red sandstone sea stack off the coast of the Orkney Islands that rises from a dark rock base into the sea. The column stands isolated from the nearby cliffs, separated by water and fallen rock debris.
The stack formed roughly 250 years ago as waves and currents wore away the coastal cliffs and left this column standing. Erosion continues to shape the formation, gradually altering its appearance over time.
Three mountaineers completed the first ascent in 1966, leading to a televised climb in 1967 that attracted 23 million BBC viewers.
The stack can be seen from a ferry or reached on foot from the nearby settlement. The best viewpoint is accessible by a straightforward walk that takes a few hours to complete.
Artists sketched the stack over 200 years ago showing it with two separate legs before storms destroyed one section. Its shape today looks quite different from those old drawings.
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