Pancake Rock, Punakaiki, South Island

The Pancake Rocks, or Punakaiki on the West Coast of South Island are heavily eroded limestone layers where the sea bursts through blowholes at high tide. Over a thirty million year process, immense water pressure caused them to solidify into layers of more resistant limestone of marine animals and softer, thin, mud-rich plant sediments. Gradually seismic action lifted the limestone above the seabed where water, wind and sea over a thirty million year period eroded them into these whimsical shapes.
 
Meg and I have been here several times, but either clouds and rain, or low tide, or sun at the wrong angle have kept us from seeing these rainbows. We finally timed it right!
Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki
Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki
Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki
Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki
Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki
Eating pancakes at Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki
Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki
Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki
Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki

Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki
A warning to selfie photographers

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