Unnatural, yet entirely real - Europe's erosion masterpiece

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Institute of Geodesy and Cartography, Poland

Asia? Fantasy world? AI? Not at all! The Bastei - "bastion".

A picturesque, fairytale, "non-natural" rock formation rising 194 metres (636 ft) above the Elbe River in the "Elbe Sandstone Mountains" of Germany. Located southeast of the city of Dresden it makes the major landmark of the Saxon Switzerland National Park. The jagged rocks were formed by water erosion over one million years ago, and they were known as towering rocks in the old defensive ring around medieval Neurathen rock Castle (now ruin). Since 19th century the rocks are a very popular tourist attraction, and for this purpose the impressive sandstone bridge has been build between rocks. The region is also very popular among climbers.

The impressive panorama reminds similar, but more famous sandstone landscape from Arizona (Monument Valley, USA) or Hunan (Zhangjiajie, China).

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