Hippos Yawn
Hippos Yawn is an outcrop that forms part of the much larger Hayden Rock area and can be reached by following the The Hippos Yawn Loop Walk from Wave Rock. It is very aptly named because the shape and formation of the rock resembles an hippopotamus yawning.
Hippo's Yawn consists of an unusually shaped granite tor that was formerly part of the larger outcrop. It is about 12.6 metres (41 ft) tall and very impressive to look at.
Hippos Yawn is technically a Tafone. Tafone is the Italian word for window. In geology it refers to large hollows or caverns which develop in a big Boulder like this. These hollows are often caused by the scouring action of wind and water. However Hippos Yawn is more likely to have been created by crystallised salts within the Boulder exerting enough pressure to break from within.
Tafoni is the plural for Tafone , they form from within and expand outwards . Usually resulting in the outer casing of the rock being breached and eventually undermining the structural stability of the host rock .
Earth Cache Questions
- Why is the inside palette of the Hippos Yawn much lighter in colour than the outside.
- Approximately how much longer will the hippo be yawning or in geological terms how long before the rock will eventually crumble.
- Take a photos with your gps with Hippos Yawn in the background