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Jabal Al-Fil, Saudi Arabia
A petrified pachyderm?
It's hard to fathom the forces of wind and water that created this elephantine formation, especially in the driest country outside the Sahara. Jabal Al-Fil, one of the world's many "elephant rocks," is proof that even Saudi Arabia once received enough rain to sculpt impressive stone shapes – even if it took millions of years. Nearby, other carven chunks of sandstone got a little help from humans; the Nabataean society once held a presence here, leaving behind several signature rock-hewn tombs like those found in their old capital, Petra (which has its own much smaller elephant rock).
A petrified pachyderm?
It's hard to fathom the forces of wind and water that created this elephantine formation, especially in the driest country outside the Sahara. Jabal Al-Fil, one of the world's many "elephant rocks," is proof that even Saudi Arabia once received enough rain to sculpt impressive stone shapes – even if it took millions of years. Nearby, other carven chunks of sandstone got a little help from humans; the Nabataean society once held a presence here, leaving behind several signature rock-hewn tombs like those found in their old capital, Petra (which has its own much smaller elephant rock).
Sunset sets this sandstone "elephant" aglow, kicking off yet another Arabian night.
© Lubo Ivanko / Shutterstock 2026-09-11 08:45:51 :