A monolith is a geological feature consisting of a single massive
stone or rock, such as some
mountains.
Erosion usually exposes the geological formations, which are often made of very hard and solid
igneous or
metamorphic rock. Some monoliths are
volcanic plugs, solidified lava filling the vent of an extinct
volcano.
In architecture, the term has considerable overlap with
megalith, which is normally used for
prehistory, and may be used in the contexts of
rock-cut architecture that remains attached to solid rock, as in
monolithic church, or for exceptionally large stones such as
obelisks, statues,
monolithic columns or large
architraves, that may have been moved a considerable distance after quarrying. It may also be used of large
glacial erratics moved by natural forces.
The word derives, via the
Latinmonolithus, from the
Ancient Greek word μονόλιθος (monólithos), from μόνος (mónos) meaning "one" or "single" and λίθος (líthos) meaning "stone".
^"Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve". The Canadian Encyclopedia. 2015-01-03. Retrieved 2024-01-12. Oddly shaped rock pillars sculpted by wind and sea create the unique islandscape of the natural reserve
^"Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve". Government of Canada. 2022-11-19. Retrieved 2024-01-10. Several animal and plant species present on the islands of the Mingan Archipelago and the surrounding landscape are endangered or at risk
^Michael Melford photograph.
"Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve". Quebec, Canada: National Geographic. Retrieved 2024-01-10. close to a thousand islands and islets sprinkled along 93 miles from east to west, 24,711 acres
^Zach Baranowski, photograph.
"The Mingan Archipelago,". St Lawrence golf: Canadian Geographic. Retrieved 2024-01-10. the shoreline at low tide reveals seemingly endless tide pools full of barnacles, green sea urchins, sea stars and other small invertebrates.
^Carrillo, Raul (2007). Northrop, Laura Cava; Curtis, Dwight L.; Sherman, Natalie (eds.). Let's Go Mexico: On a Budget. Macmillan. p. 370.
ISBN978-0-312-37452-5.
^Escobar Ledesma, Agustín (1999). Recetario del semidesierto de Querétaro: Acoyos, rejalgares y tantarrias. Conaculta. p. 75.
ISBN978-970-18-3910-2.