Edinburgh Castle Rock - Edinburgh, Scotland
Posted by: netdust
N 55° 56.955 W 003° 12.017
30U E 487492 N 6200449
Edinburgh castle was built on top of a vulcanic plug.
Waymark Code: WMMGTK
Location: Southern Scotland, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/19/2014
Views: 33
Edinburgh Castle Rock was formed about 340 million years ago in the Carboniferous period as a subterrean volcanic pipe made from hard dolerite rock. It is part of the Arthur's Seat Vulcanic Site that also comprises Carlton Hill and Arthur's Seat itself. During the Quaternary, glaciers moving from west to east eroded the softer soil around the dolerite and created today's Castle Rock with its steep cliffs at three sides. The eastern side of the rock is less steep since it was protected from the glacial erosion by castle rock. It is thus a typical example for a "crag and tail" formation.
Sources : (
visit link) (
visit link) (
visit link)
There is an entrance fee to the castle, but Castle Rock can best be viewed from below, i.e. from Princes Street or Princes Street Garden, so there is no need to enter the castle for this.