<p>The terrain examples show some striking similarities to what is referred to in the United States as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badlands" rel="nofollow noreferrer">"Badlands"</a> - a type of terrain <a href="https://serc.carleton.edu/research_education/nativelands/pineridge/geology2.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">formed by layered sedimentary strata of rock that is soft enough to be eroded by wind and water</a> into recognizably similar features. For example, here is <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Badlands00503.JPG" rel="nofollow noreferrer">South Dakota Badlands National Park</a>:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/97NFw.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/97NFw.jpg" alt="Badlands terrain in South Dakota"></a></p>

<p>Anecdotally, I have seen similar terrain in numerous areas of the Western United States, some appearing almost identical to the examples in the question. Furthermore, as mentioned in the updated question, the terrain examples shown for Zanda County, Tibet, are also referred to as the "Earth Forest"; further research of this specific location indicates that it was likely formed by similar erosive processes acting on <a href="https://www.tibettravel.org/tibet-travel-guide/tsaparang.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">"sediment stratum [...] mainly composed by sandstone and clay"</a>, comparable to the processes forming the various areas of Badlands in the United States. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T17:18:09.117Z
Thanks - I expanded my answer, still including that edit, to add some additional proof including a reference directly about the exact location in question.
dplmmr
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T17:20:34.667Z
This has turned into an excellent answer, thank you very much!
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T17:35:30.480Z
You can see similar terrain (except with red rocks) in Bryce Canyou National Park: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryce_Canyon_National_Park and on a smaller scale, in a number of other places in the US west.   I think the cause is weathering/erosion of sedimentary rock with layers of different hardness.
jamesqf
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T17:41:10.923Z
@jamesqf how about elsewhere? [Does Mars have badlands?](https://space.stackexchange.com/q/36044/12102)
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-10T02:13:16.570Z
And Cedar Breaks Park in UT; the same formations as Bryce Canyon.
blacksmith37
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T16:28:39.563Z
2019-05-09T17:17:02.280Z
2019-05-09T17:17:02.280Z
dplmmr
<p>A friend recommended I watch this Chinese language video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpws4xLMK7Y" rel="nofollow noreferrer">航拍西藏 2018</a> (<em>Aerial photography in Tibet</em>) and the HD drone video of scenery is stunning. </p>

<p>After about 37 minutes into the video, there are shots of these tall 3D structures that I don't understand at all. The shapes look familliar and remind me of something I think I saw in California, perhaps the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anza-Borrego_Desert_State_Park" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Anza-Borrego desert</a> in California, but it was nothing like this.</p>

<p>I'm told that the area is called 札达土林 in Chinese, and that seems to be <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanda_County" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Zanda County in Tibet</a></p>

<p><strong>update:</strong> See for example 31.5230N, 79.6900E and <a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/a/33884/18487">this answer</a> which recommends the name <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com.br/Attraction_Review-g1136581-d1871496-Reviews-Zhada_Earth_Forest_National_Geopark-Zanda_County_Tibet.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Zhada Earth Forest National Geopark</a></p>

<p>What is it exactly that produces these amazing 3D layered and ridged structures in China, and what are they called?</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ifmn2.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ifmn2.jpg" alt="札达土林 Zanda County in Tibet"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/pzPvL.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/pzPvL.jpg" alt="札达土林 Zanda County in Tibet"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-09T19:24:27.143Z
deccan traps ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deccan_Traps
Helder Velez
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-10T18:31:45.213Z
Hoodoos. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoodoo_(geology).
David Hammen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-10T20:30:38.310Z
The Deccan traps are volcanic in  origin, these formations appear to be sedimentary.
Fred
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-10T20:31:31.157Z
I tend to agree the author of the answer to that question, @dplmmr; the sedimentary beds within the landscape appear soft, & in my opinion friable as well & thus easily eroded by rain & wind. I've had a look at the video & at 37:18 I briefly saw what appeared to be talus slopes at the base of ridges (lower left). Also around 38:08 there are more talus slopes higher up on berms (upper right). I would say that the erosion of the Tibetan region would be a combination of thermal stresses, water freezing, rain, snow melt & wind.
Fred
<erosion><geologic-layers>
What produces these amazing 3D structures in Tibet?
uhoh
# What produces these amazing 3D structures in Tibet?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-05-09)

A friend recommended I watch this Chinese language video [航拍西藏 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpws4xLMK7Y) (*Aerial photography in Tibet*) and the HD drone video of scenery is stunning.

After about 37 minutes into the video, there are shots of these tall 3D structures that I don't understand at all. The shapes look familliar and remind me of something I think I saw in California, perhaps the [Anza-Borrego desert](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anza-Borrego_Desert_State_Park) in California, but it was nothing like this.

I'm told that the area is called 札达土林 in Chinese, and that seems to be [Zanda County in Tibet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanda_County)

**update:** See for example 31.5230N, 79.6900E and [this answer](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/a/33884/18487) which recommends the name [Zhada Earth Forest National Geopark](https://www.tripadvisor.com.br/Attraction_Review-g1136581-d1871496-Reviews-Zhada_Earth_Forest_National_Geopark-Zanda_County_Tibet.html)

What is it exactly that produces these amazing 3D layered and ridged structures in China, and what are they called?

[![札达土林 Zanda County in Tibet](https://i.sstatic.net/ifmn2.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/ifmn2.jpg)

[![札达土林 Zanda County in Tibet](https://i.sstatic.net/pzPvL.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/pzPvL.jpg)

**Tags:** erosion, geologic-layers

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: deccan traps ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deccan_Traps  
> **username_2**: Hoodoos. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoodoo_(geology).  
> **username_3**: The Deccan traps are volcanic in  origin, these formations appear to be sedimentary.  
> **username_3**: I tend to agree the author of the answer to that question, @username_4; the sedimentary beds within the landscape appear soft, & in my opinion friable as well & thus easily eroded by rain & wind. I've had a look at the video & at 37:18 I briefly saw what appeared to be talus slopes at the base of ridges (lower left). Also around 38:08 there are more talus slopes higher up on berms (upper right). I would say that the erosion of the Tibetan region would be a combination of thermal stresses, water freezing, rain, snow melt & wind.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2019-05-09. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The terrain examples show some striking similarities to what is referred to in the United States as ["Badlands"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badlands) - a type of terrain [formed by layered sedimentary strata of rock that is soft enough to be eroded by wind and water](https://serc.carleton.edu/research_education/nativelands/pineridge/geology2.html) into recognizably similar features. For example, here is [South Dakota Badlands National Park](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Badlands00503.JPG):

[![Badlands terrain in South Dakota](https://i.sstatic.net/97NFw.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/97NFw.jpg)

Anecdotally, I have seen similar terrain in numerous areas of the Western United States, some appearing almost identical to the examples in the question. Furthermore, as mentioned in the updated question, the terrain examples shown for Zanda County, Tibet, are also referred to as the "Earth Forest"; further research of this specific location indicates that it was likely formed by similar erosive processes acting on ["sediment stratum [...] mainly composed by sandstone and clay"](https://www.tibettravel.org/tibet-travel-guide/tsaparang.html), comparable to the processes forming the various areas of Badlands in the United States.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Thanks - I expanded my answer, still including that edit, to add some additional proof including a reference directly about the exact location in question.  
> **username_0**: This has turned into an excellent answer, thank you very much!  
> **username_5**: You can see similar terrain (except with red rocks) in Bryce Canyou National Park: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryce_Canyon_National_Park and on a smaller scale, in a number of other places in the US west.   I think the cause is weathering/erosion of sedimentary rock with layers of different hardness.  
> **username_0**: @username_5 how about elsewhere? [Does Mars have badlands?](https://space.stackexchange.com/q/36044/12102)  
> **username_6**: And Cedar Breaks Park in UT; the same formations as Bryce Canyon.  

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