Calanchi Desert in Sicily

Photographer: Barbara Pindo 
Summary Author: Barbara Pindo

During a bus ride from Syracuse to Palermo in Sicily (Italy), I noticed the above geological formation called calanchi in Italian. The Calanques have given life to the suggestive term Calanchi Desert, characterized by the clayey clod that recalls the color of the desert sand. Gullies have been formed over the years due to the action of rainwater on the clay-based rock outcrops, creating fascinating landscapes here and there that resemble the shape of an elephant's foot. Photo taken on February 15, 2024.

Photo Details: Samsung s21 smartphone; 1.0 second exposure; f/2.0; ISO 50.

Centuripe, Sicily, Italy Coordinates: 37.616667, 14.733333

Related Links:
Badlands of Lazio, Italy
Identification of Calanco, a badland landform in the northern Apennines, Italy
Barbara's Website