Detunatele is a site of

columnar jointing Columnar jointing is a geological structure where sets of intersecting closely spaced fractures, referred to as Joint (geology), joints, result in the formation of a regular array of polygonal Prism (geometry), prisms, or columns. Columnar joint ...

in Alba County,

Transylvania Transylvania ( ro, Ardeal or ; hu, Erdély; german: Siebenbürgen) is a historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and south its natural border is the Carpathian Mountains, and to the west the Ap ...

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

. ''Detunatele'' means lightning strike. The columns are made of hexagonal-shaped

basalt Basalt (; ) is an aphanite, aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the planetary surface, surface of a terrestrial ...

and are tall on two peaks: Detunata Goală and Detunata Flocoasă (Barren Detunata and Shaggy Detunata). The two peaks are located in the Metaliferi Mountains and are a tourist attraction. They are apart. The formations are shaped like humps and there are stories and legends associated with them. They are considered to be two of the most beautiful peaks in the Apuseni Mountains.

References

External links

The Detunata
Write up of a hike up Detunata Flocoasa including photos Columnar basalts Geology of Romania Geography of Alba County Tourist attractions in Alba County {{Alba-geo-stub