Stone Forest, Limestone geopark in Yunnan Province, China.
The Stone Forest is a geopark in Yunnan Province, China, containing thousands of limestone pillars rising up to 50 meters (164 feet). These formations span 350 square kilometers (135 square miles) and create a dense maze of vertical structures shaped by erosion.
The limestone deposits formed during the Late Paleozoic period, when the region experienced a marine environment and accumulated carbonate rocks over 250 million years. The pillars today took shape through chemical and mechanical weathering over several geological epochs.
The Sani people tell the legend of Ashima, a girl turned into one of the rocks. Visitors encounter this story through traditional costumes and songs performed during local festivals.
Guided tours help navigate the pathways between the rocks and understand the geological features. The park is large, so wear sturdy shoes and allow enough time to explore the formations at a comfortable pace.
The park contains marine fossils from the Middle Permian period and terrestrial fossils from the Eocene and Oligocene epochs. These layers document the shift from a seabed to a continental landscape over millions of years.
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