The Twelve Apostles
The Twelve Apostles is a
collection of limestone stacks off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park,
by the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. Their proximity to one another has made the site a
popular tourist attraction.
Currently there are 8 apostles left but the name remains significant and
spectacular especially in the Australian tourism industry.
The apostles were formed by erosion. The harsh and extreme weather conditions from the Southern Ocean gradually eroded the soft limestone to form caves in the cliffs, which then became arches, which in turn collapsed, leaving rock stacks up to 45 meters high. Now because of this erosion there are less than ten remaining. The site was known as the Sow and Piglets until 1922, after which it was renamed to The Apostles for tourism purposes. The formation eventually became known as the Twelve Apostles, despite only ever having nine stacks.
The stacks are susceptible to further erosion from the waves. On 3 July 2005, a 50 meter tall stack collapsed, leaving eight remaining. The rate of erosion at the base of the limestone pillars is approximately 2 cm per year. Due to wave action eroding the cliff face existing headlands are expected to become new limestone stacks in the future.
At sunrise and sunset the rocks turn into colours of sandy yellows and oranges under a full sun. The ocean the twelve Apostles sit in is 20.327 million square kilometres and the Twelve Apostles Marine Park covers 17 kilometres of the coastline.
The apostles were formed by erosion. The harsh and extreme weather conditions from the Southern Ocean gradually eroded the soft limestone to form caves in the cliffs, which then became arches, which in turn collapsed, leaving rock stacks up to 45 meters high. Now because of this erosion there are less than ten remaining. The site was known as the Sow and Piglets until 1922, after which it was renamed to The Apostles for tourism purposes. The formation eventually became known as the Twelve Apostles, despite only ever having nine stacks.
The stacks are susceptible to further erosion from the waves. On 3 July 2005, a 50 meter tall stack collapsed, leaving eight remaining. The rate of erosion at the base of the limestone pillars is approximately 2 cm per year. Due to wave action eroding the cliff face existing headlands are expected to become new limestone stacks in the future.
At sunrise and sunset the rocks turn into colours of sandy yellows and oranges under a full sun. The ocean the twelve Apostles sit in is 20.327 million square kilometres and the Twelve Apostles Marine Park covers 17 kilometres of the coastline.