Did You Know: The Devils Tower is the Tallest Volcanic Column in the World

The tallest volcanic column is the Devils Tower found in Wyoming in the United States of America according to the Guinness World Records of 2018.

The Devils Tower began as an underground igneous rock more than 50 years ago according to geological records.

The surrounding softer sedimentary rock has since eroded, leaving behind a towering monolith that is approximately 585 feet tall. It was formed as the magma intrusion cooled and shrank.

The name Devils Tower originated in the year 1875 during an expedition led by Colonel Richard Dodge when his interpreter reportedly misinterpreted a native name to mean “Bad God’s Tower”.

Some of the names used by the natives include; “Bear’s House” or “Bear’s Lodge” or Home of the Bear” or “Bear’s Lair” among other names.

When you come across a natural wonder as strange as Wyoming’s Devils Tower National Monument, you can’t help but wonder about it… and maybe let your imagination run a tiny bit wild.

Even scientists aren’t 100% certain how the massive stone structure came to exist– theories range from it being a volcanic plug to being the neck of an extinct volcano.

They do know that the tower was formed from an igneous material (aka cooled magma, which is the cause of the hexagonal columns) and erosion has definitely played a role in the creation of the tower we see today.