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The tessellated pavement is located at Eaglehawk Neck in Tasmania, it is a very unusual natural rock formation. The pavement bears this name because the rock has fractured into polygonal blocks that resemble tiles. The cracks were formed when the rock fractured through the action of stress on the Earth’s crust and subsequently, were modified by sand and wave action.
Sunrise, Tessellated Pavement, Eaglehawk Neck, Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania, Australia.(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The pan formation is a series of concave depressions in the rock that typically, forms beyond the edge of the seashore. As a result, this part of the pavement dries out more at low tide than the portion abutting the seashore and allows salt crystals to develop further, resulting in salt forming on the surface that erodes the surface more quickly than at the joints. As a result, the surface of the “pans” erodes more quickly, while the joints erode more slowly, resulting in the concave pan.
Learn more about this natural wonder in Wikipedia.
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I’ve never heard of the Tessellated Pavement before. This is so interesting. It looks so even and flat, not at all like something that would have formed naturally. I’m impressed!
Hi writingfreemail,
It is very rare, they have also found this type of thing underwater as well although not as flat.
That Australia! Always keeping us amazed, Mags!!
Hi Linda,
We definitely have some unusual things from animals to landscape here Down Under.
It’s really amazing. I wish someone would start a kangaroo population in the US. I’m assuming they are like deer. Or are they? I’d love to hear about what it’s like to live amoung kangaroos. Hint hint!
I will have to do a kangaroo post down the track, you would be amazed at the different variety’s of kangaroos.
I don’t know anything about them but they fascinate me. Can you tame them? Ride them? Are they dangerous? You see I know nothing, Mags! LOL
Well I will have to definitely put a kangaroo post on the list, and give you some real information about our wonderful kangaroos.
New to me too! Looks like a photographer’s heaven!
Hi Travel Spirit,
This particular part of Tasmania is indeed a photographer’s paradise, these tessellated pavements have been photographed by professional photographers the world over. it is constantly changing depending on the tide, and the sky too of course.
How can we be sure that Aliens didn’t cut those rocks to look that way? haha! Only Kidding!
It is really strange though, isn’t it? Things like that always cause me to have more questions, it’s a marvel.
Hi A Gripping Life,
Yes Aliens do have the technology, or so I am told.
It is amazing how the erosion has formed these “pavements”, and very rare as well, it must of taken millions of years for this to be performed with such perfection.
Mags: We stood at Eaglehawk Neck last year, even walked around but no one told us about the tessellated pavement!!!!! I so wish I could have seen this first hand! It’s amazing, so “architectural”, in such perfect squares. It just means we’ll have to go back. We loved everything about Tasmania, everything.
http://earthoceanskyredux.com/2011/02/21/tasman-peninsula/
Hi EOSR,
What a shame nobody told you about this while you were there, it really is a natural wonder, and it looks different as the day changes as well, at least you have now seen it, not as good as being there I know. Tasmania, is a fantastic place it has a lot of history, and is filled with a lot of natural wonders. Over time I will blog more about Tasmania.
They say you learn something new every day. Well by golly, today I learned about ” tessellated” pavement. I’d never heard of anything like it before. Way cool!
Hi Laurie,
It does look amazing, just like someone had paved a path around the water itself, there are just so many wonders around the world, I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
WOW! This is new for me too, so interesting, I wished to take pictures there… Thank you dear Mags, you always bring something so interesting and beautiful. With my love, nia
Hi Nia,
It is a wonderful spot for photos, you would really have fun with your camera at this spot.
I think the Tasmanian Devils laid those pavers so they could get to the water without getting sand stuck between their toes.
Hi Tony,
You know you may just be right.
Mind boggling, how nature created this … like someone said here above; a photographer’s heaven! Have you been to Tasmania, Mags?
LOL @ the comment from McGurk here … I can see the li’l devils laying those pavers, for my inner vision
Hi reb,
Oh yes I have been to Tassie, a fantastic place, a lot of history to do with the convicts, and a lot of natural wonders there as well. A little bit of trivia for you, Tasmania was actually part of mainland Australia, but about 10,000 years ago at the end of our glacial period, it was seperated by sea water which today is known as Bass Straight.
I also thought Tony’s comment was good, I had the same visions.
Marvellous! A person I used to know lives in a small place [Kingston] there.
Kingston is a beautiful place, just south of the city (Hobart) there are some lovely beaches there, and it too has a lot history.
yeah, his house had a history of having been a Buddhist temple or some such …
Nature trumps us – always!
Hi This Sydney Life,
Nature certainly does.
It really does look like somebody actually laid the pavement
.
Hi Windsmoke,
That is exactly what it looks like, it really is amazing.
Thanks Mags. I’ll make sure I visit there when we finally make it to Tasmania. Cheers, Mal.
Hi Mal,
It is well worth the visit Mal, there is a lot to see in Tassie.
Another amazing story. Thank you for always making it fun to visit.
Hi Doraz,
Thank You.
These “pavements” are amazing, how they formed over the years.
Another find of something I never heard of before. Thanks!
Hi Frank,
Nature has done some wonderful work all over the world, this is just one on many, and it’s good to know that I have been able to show you something different.
Mags, you find the coolest stuff!
Hi Elyse,
It is amazing isn’t it what nature can do.
That’s really cool, Mags!
Hi ariadnesdaughter,
I’m glad you hadn’t seen it before, and it is even better that you enjoyed it as well.
First time I have seen that rock formation , even though having lived in Tassy for ten years
I never got around to Eaglehawk neck,
Cheers
Ian aka Emu
Hi Aussie Ian,
What a shame you didn’t get to that part of Tassie, put it on the list if you ever decide to go back for a visit, there is a lot around Eaglehawk to see, a very interesting place.
It does look man made, it’s a wonder no one has pried them apart and used them for building, they look like ready made housing blocks
Hi tempo,
Who knows they may of back in the convict days, there are still a few houses in Tassie made from stone, lovely cottages.
That photo is so beautiful. I really must get down to Tassie and check out this island of contrasts xx
Hi hotlyspiced,
There is a lot to see in Tassie, I’m sure you would love it.
What an informative blog once again. Thanks so much. Some years back I saw a programme about Japan, where some strange rock formations under water are causing archaeologists some headaches because they cannot agree if the formations are man made or naturally formed. Must be another case of tesselated pavement, only these are vertical and have steps that look as if a giant had made them as part of harbour defences, which are now under water thanks to volcanic activity. i’d love to visit Tasmania. Keep the info coming!:)
Hi mariathermann,
I didn’t hear about that discovery in Japan, very interesting. It must be hard when something like that is discovered, there are so many underwater city’s that have been found you just can’t rule that out either, but still exciting at the same time, even if it all turns out to be natural, still a significant find.
Never heard of tessellated pavement before – the natural wonders we discover on this planet are endless! It looks as if Mother Nature decided she wanted to build a nice patio for herself…
Hi Barbara,
That is exactly what Mother Nature did, built a patio, well said.
http://photographyofnia.com/2012/04/18/another-one/
This is for you dear Mags, Thanks and Love, nia
Hi Nia,
Thank You very much for the award, I am honoured.
It’s really beautiful. But did this really form naturally! I would love to see something like this with my own eyes one day. Wonderful.
Hi Arindam,
Oh yes, it is all natures work, just thrugh erosion of many, many years, this is very rare, even those found at the bottom of the sea are not usually flat, it all happens because of the salt left behind on the rocks and combination of wind and sun. It is also in a very pretty area as well.
I’ve never heard of this. Very strange! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Naomi,
Nature can achieve some wonders.
It is amazing what can form naturally. I love it. It is quite beautiful!
Hi Selma,
It is unreal how it has formed like this, truly remarkable.
Oh Mags, it’s obvious that it was built by an ancient civilization, the remains of which are hidden under the sea. I can just picture priests and priestesses in long, flowing robes gliding solemnly along the pavement, on their way to the temple now under the sea. I wonder if there were human sacrifices or whether they were highly spiritual and knew how to command the elements. Perhaps they came from “somewhere else”, built a city, then went back home, having repaired the spacecraft that had broken down for a generation or two.
Don’t you love the way that Tasmania looks like a heart-shaped charm hanging off mainland Australia? It must be made of gold – a bit ragged around the edges but that’s because it is so old.
Hi Lady Marilyn,
You never know you may be right.
I love the way you have described Tasmania, and that is exactly what it looks like.
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