How do inselbergs rise above flat deserts?
Quick Answer
Inselbergs are isolated rocky hills left behind after weathering and erosion remove the surrounding land. They are often made of hard granite or gneiss that resists breakdown.
The Full Story
An inselberg is an isolated hill or mountain that stands above a broad plain, especially in arid regions. These landforms usually survive because their rock is more resistant than the surrounding material, which is gradually broken down by weathering and erosion. Over very long periods, the softer ground wears away until the hill remains as a prominent outcrop. Many inselbergs are made of granite or metamorphic rock. Well-known examples occur in southern Africa and Australia, including Uluru, which is an inselberg-like sandstone monolith rather than a granite dome.
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