Detunatele is a site of

columnar jointing Columnar jointing is a geological structure where sets of intersecting closely spaced fractures, referred to as joints, result in the formation of a regular array of polygonal prisms, or columns. Columnar jointing occurs in many types of igneo ...

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, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Moldova to the east, and ...

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

basalt Basalt (; ) is an 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 surface of a rocky planet or moon. More than 90 ...

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 Metaliferi Mountains ( ro, Munții Metaliferi; hu, Erdélyi-érchegység), meaning Ore Mountains, are in the Carpathian Mountain Range and are a division of the Apuseni Mountains. Peaks The highest peak is , with an elevation of . The range als ...

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