Horse Block facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Horse Block
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Satellite image of Weddell Island
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 Horse Block
Location in Falkland Islands
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| Country | Falkland Islands |
| Time zone | UTC−3 (FKST) |
| If shown, area and population ranks are for all islands and all inhabited islands in the Falklands respectively. | |
The Horse Block is a cool rock formation in the Falkland Islands. It's like a tall, thin island made of rock. You can find it near the southwest coast of Weddell Island. It's about 1.8 kilometers (just over a mile) southwest of a place called Pillar Bluff.
What is Horse Block?
Horse Block is a type of landform called a sea stack. Imagine a tall, narrow column of rock that stands in the ocean. It used to be part of a larger cliff or island. Over a very long time, the ocean's waves and currents slowly wore away the softer rock around it. This left behind the harder rock, forming the stack we see today.
The Horse Block got its name because it looks a bit like a horse standing up when you see its shape against the sky.
How Sea Stacks Form
Sea stacks are quite common along the western side of the Falkland Islands. This is because of the strong ocean forces there.
- Tidal Swell: The ocean has powerful tides that cause big movements of water.
- Erosion: The constant crashing of waves slowly wears away the rock. This is like sandpaper rubbing against wood.
- Falkland Current: A strong ocean current, called the Falkland Current, also helps to shape the coastline. It carries water and sediment, adding to the wearing-down process.
All these natural forces work together to create amazing rock formations like the Horse Block.
Gallery
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Old map of Weddell Island featuring Horse Block
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Map of Weddell Island
See also
In Spanish: Farallón Caballo para niños
