The Twelve Apostles (Victoria)

The Twelve Apostles are a collection of natural limestone stacks standing just off shore in the Port Campbell National Park, on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. Their proximity to one another has made the site a popular tourist attraction. Originally the site was called the Sow and Piglets. The name was changed in the 1950s to the more majestic "The Twelve Apostles" to lure more visitors even though there were only nine left.

The Twelve Apostles are between the towns of Port Campbell and Princetown on the Great Ocean Road. In the early 2000s a visitor centre was built on the inland side of the road to allow for easy parking and access to the best viewing area. [ [http://www.aila.org.au/victoria/awards2003/projects/twelveapostles.htm TWELVE APOSTLES VISITOR CENTRE] 2003 AILA Victoria & TasmaniaAwards in Landscape Architecture] Helicopter rides around the formations are also available.

Erosion of the Apostles

The stacks have been formed by erosion, and are varying heights and thicknesses. A number have fallen over entirely as waves continually erode their bases. A 50-metre tall Apostle collapsed on July 3, 2005, leaving eight.

Another well-known feature in Port Campbell National Park to succumb to erosion was the 'London Arch.'

The rate of erosion at the base of the limestone pillars is approximately 2 cm per year. [http://www.earthbytandem.com/Australia.htm ("At a destructive rate of 2-3 cm per year")]

Gallery

ee also

*London Arch (formerly London Bridge)
*Loch Ard Gorge
*Gibson Steps

References

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4647857.stm BBC article about the collapse]