TechAncient Euseigne Pyramids outdate Egypt’s great monuments

Ancient Euseigne Pyramids outdate Egypt’s great monuments

The Euseigne Pyramids in the Swiss Alps are spectacular geological formations formed by erosion. It is estimated that they formed as long as 80,000 years ago, which makes them older than the pyramids in Giza.

Euseigne in Switzerland
Euseigne in Switzerland
Images source: © Getty Images | Frank Bienewald
Norbert Garbarek

The Euseigne Pyramids, located in the Val d'Hérens valley in the Swiss Alps, are extraordinary geological formations that resulted from natural erosion processes. These impressive structures, reaching heights of 10 to 15 metres, were shaped at the end of the last Ice Age, around 80,000 to 10,000 years ago. Thus, they are older than the pyramids in Egypt.

Formation process of the pyramids

The portal IFL Science explains that the formation process of these structures began with the retreat of glaciers. Their tongues left behind large amounts of soft material known as moraine, within which harder boulders were embedded. Over time, rain and meltwater washed away the soft sediments, revealing the hard boulders that protect the columns from further erosion.

The Euseigne Pyramids were listed in 1983 in the Swiss Federal Inventory of Landscapes, Sites and Natural Monuments of National Importance. This distinction highlights their uniqueness and significance as a symbol of impermanence, as these structures will continue to erode until they eventually disappear.

Unique geological formations

Such geological formations, known in English as hoodoos, tent rocks or fairy chimneys, can be found in various parts of the world where specific geological conditions create a combination of harder and softer rock layers. Examples can be found in Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah and Cappadocia in Turkey.

The Euseigne Pyramids are not only a tourist attraction but also an important element of geological heritage, attracting researchers and tourists from around the world. Thanks to the mountain road that runs through these formations, they can be admired up close, making them even more fascinating.

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