Monolith

In architecture, the term has considerable overlap with megalith, which is normally used for prehistory, and may be used in the contexts of rock-cut architecture that remains attached to solid rock, as in monolithic church, or for exceptionally large stones such as obelisks, statues, monolithic columns or large architraves, that may have been moved a considerable distance after quarrying. It may also be used of large glacial erratics moved by natural forces.

The word derives, via the Latin monolithus, from the Ancient Greek word μονόλιθος (monólithos), from μόνος (mónos) meaning "one" or "single" and λίθος (líthos) meaning "stone".

Geological monoliths

Large, well-known monoliths include:

Africa

• Aso Rock, Nigeria
• Ben Amera, Mauritania
• Brandberg Mountain, Namibia
• Sibebe, Eswatini
• Zuma Rock, Nigeria
• Mount Lubiri, Angola
• Mount Poi, Kenya
• Great Sphinx of Giza
• Oruku Rock, Ososo, Edo State, Nigeria

Antarctica

• Scullin monolith

Asia

• Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia
• Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
• Gilbert Hill, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Kailasa temple, Ellora, Maharashtra, India
• Namakkal Fort, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, India
• Malaikottai, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
• St. Thomas Mount, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
• Bellary Fort, Bellary, India
• Madhugiri Betta, Karnataka, India
• Yana, Karnataka, India
• Bhongir, Telangana, India
• Ekasila, Warangal, India
• Mount Kelam, Indonesia
• Mount Pico de Loro, Philippines
• Mount Pulumbato, Philippines
• Sangla Hill, Pakistan
• Savandurga, Karnataka, India
• Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

Australia

• Bald Rock, near Tenterfield, New South Wales
• Mount Augustus (Burringurrah), Western Australia (NOTE: this is not actually monolith as popularly claimed, but, rather, a monocline)
• Mount Coolum, Queensland
• Mount Wudinna, South Australia
• Pine Mountain, Victoria
• Uluru, Northern Territory

Europe

• Kalamos, Anafi, Greece
• Katskhi Pillar, Georgia
• Levski G., Sofia, Bulgaria
• Logan Rock, Treen, Cornwall, United Kingdom
• Monolithe de Sardières, Sollières-Sardières, France
• Penyal d'Ifac, Calpe, Valencian Community, Spain
• Peña de Arcos, Arcos de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain
• Peña de los Enamorados, Antequera, Andalusia, Spain (a World Heritage Site)
• Rauk, Sweden
• Rock of Gibraltar, Gibraltar
• Rock of Monaco, Monaco-Ville, Monaco
• Pietra Cappa, San Luca, Italy

North America

United States

• Angels Landing, Zion National Park, Utah
• Beacon Rock, Columbia River Gorge, Washington
• Bottleneck Peak, Sids Mountain, Utah
• Castle Rock, Pineville, West Virginia
• Chimney Rock, Bayard, Nebraska
• Chimney Rock, Chimney Rock, North Carolina
• Courthouse and Jail Rocks, Bridgeport, Nebraska
• Devils Tower, Wyoming
• El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, California
• Enchanted Rock, Llano County, Texas
• Frog Woman Rock, Mendocino County, California
• Great White Throne, Zion National Park, Utah
• Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California
• Haystack Rock, Clatsop County, Oregon
• Looking Glass Rock, Transylvania County, North Carolina
• Moro Rock, Sequoia National Park, California
• Quincy Quarries Reservation, Quincy, Massachusetts
• Scotts Bluff National Monument, Gering, Nebraska
• Shiprock, San Juan County, New Mexico
• Stone Mountain, Stone Mountain, Georgia
• Stone Mountain, Stone Mountain, North Carolina
• Tooth of Time, Cimarron, New Mexico
• Wolf Rock, Linn County, Oregon

Canada

• Stawamus Chief, Squamish, British Columbia
• Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec' ' '

Mexico

• La Peña de Bernal, Queretaro; claimed to be the world's third-largest monolith
• Las Piedrotas, near the town of Tapalpa, Jalisco.

South America

• Cochamó Valley, Several granitic monoliths, Chile
• El Peñón, also known as El Peñol Stone or simply La Piedra, Colombia
• Pão de Açúcar, Brazil
• Pedra da Gávea, Brazil the world's largest monolith on the coastline
• Pedra da Galinha Choca, Brazil
• Torres del Paine, Chile

Outside Earth

• Phobos monolith on Phobos
• Mars monolith