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Sardegna

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Vivere la campagna

Columnar basalt (Guspini)

Basalti colonnari (Guspini) - foto: Ivo Piras

In the village centre, near the Zeppara hill, a rare rocky monument appears: the columnar basalt. It is a rare geologic formation, generated by basaltic effusions, possibly dating from the end of Miocene – beginning of Pliocene (about three million years ago), following volcanic eruptions. What makes it even more unique is a characteristic shape similar to ‘organ pipes’. At first, the area had been used as a quarry for building material for roads and squares, before being closed to be recognized as a national monument and made available to visitors.