Turtle Back Rock

Turtle Back Rock

The Turtle Back Rock in Arxan is a turtle-back shaped lava formation, belonging to a crust-like lava flow. It formed when the surface crust of an erupted lava flow cracked in various directions due to cooling and contraction, creating a net-like pattern. Later, multiple subsequent lava flows filled these cracks, intersecting with one another. Eventually, the originally flat lava surface became an irregular arrangement of polygonal shapes, resembling a turtle's back—hence the name "lava turtle back structure." This type of geological formation is quite rare in China, and volcano experts have called it the "national treasure" among volcanoes. The turtle back structure in Arxan's Shitang area consists of at least three lava flow units. Its main characteristics include parallel bedding and cross-bedding.