Steepest, Most Fearsome, Dreaded and Challenging Cliffs

Are you afraid of heights? Then don’t dare try going to the sites listed below. These places are for the brave and courageous only!!!

These cliffs are perfect for rock climbing, free climbing, speed climbing, BASE jumping or simply for sightseeing.

Preikestolen

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The 604 meters high Preikestolen is a massive cliff above Lysefjorden in Forsand, Norway. This cliff has an amazing top that is almost flat with an approximate area of 625 m². The top of the cliff attracts thousands of tourist every year and one of Norway’s famous natural tourist attractions.

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This cliff that offers breathtaking views of its surrounding area is also known as Prekestolen. It is called Preacher’s Pulpit or Pulpit Rock in English and Hyvlatonna – its old local name.

Tenaya Canyon

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Do you have the guts to sit on the edge of this dramatic and dangerous cliff located in California, USA? The man on the above picture seems not afraid at all. I don’t think I can do that even if they will pay me a million dollar. This cliff is part of the Tenaya Canyon in Yosemite National Park. The canyon is one of the most notorious in the world; it has no foot trail and is notoriously difficult to navigate.

Kjerag

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Kjerag (or Kiragg) is a popular natural tourist attraction and BASE jumping destination in Nowrway. About 29,000 jumps were performed from 1994 to 1998 on this Norwegian mountain and there were 9 death accidents during this period. Kjerag’s highest point is 1,110 m above sea level. Part of the mountain that attracts tourist and BASE jumpers from all over the world is its northern drop. The drop is 984 meters and is located near the famous Kjeragbolten, a 5 m³ big stone which is plugged between two rocks.

Mount Asgard

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Mount Asgard is another beauty of nature to behold and a challenging peak to climb. This unique twin peaked mountain with two flat-topped cylindrical rock towers, separated by a saddle is located in Auyuittuq National Park in Nunavut, Canada. Mount Asgard which is perhaps the most famous of the Baffin Mountains got its named after Asgard, the real of the gods in Norse mythology. The North Peak was first ascended in 1953 while the South Peak was in 1971.

Mount Thor

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The astonishing Mount Thor or Thor Peak of Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada is the tallest purely-vertical drop on Earth. Its drop is measured at 1,250 meters with an average angle of 105 degrees. Due to this distinct feature, the location is popular with climbers even though the site is very remote. Mount Thor was first climbed in 1953 and the world record for longest rappel was set on Mount Thor on July 23, 2006. A 26 year old Canadian Park Ranger rappelled, dropped to the base of the mountain and was killed.

El Capitan

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This astounding granite monolith in California, USA is one of the world’s favorite challenges for rock climbers. The vertical rock formation El Capitan with a height of 910 meters is located on the north side of Yosemite Valley in California. Once considered impossible to climb, El Capitan is now the standard for big-wall climbing. The most daring challenge for climbers is to climb up the sheer granite face either by free climbing or speed climbing.

The first BASE jump from El Capitan was in 1966. BASE jumping in El Capitan is already prohibited since 1980. A BASE jumper and stuntwoman died in 1999 while making an illegal protest jump in support of lifting the park’s ban

Cap de la Nau

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The spectacular Cap de la Nau, a headland Xabia, Spain, is rocky, steep and mostly composed of limestone. There is a lighthouse located 120 meters over the sea level in the top of a cliff. Beneath the headland there is a big cave, known as Cova dels Orgues or Cueva de los Órganos in Spanish and can only be approached from the sea. This headland is also called Cabo de la Nao which literally means Cape of the Ship.

Notch Peak

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Notch Peak in Utah, USA with a height of 2,943 meters above sea level is one of the highest peaks in the House Range. The northwest face of the mountain is a massive limestone cliff with 670 meters of vertical rise, making it among the highest cliff faces in North America. The summit can be reached by following a trail from the east side of the mountain in Sawtooth Canyon. The hike is about 6.4 km long with 820 meters elevation gain. Rock climbing routes on the limestone cliffs include the Swiss Route, Pillars of Faith and Book of Saturdays, Appetite for Destruction and Western Hardman reach 275 meters of vertical.

Fortaleza Canyon

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The Fortaleza Canyon with lofty cliffs is located in the Aparados da Serra National Park in Brazil. The steep cliffs measure about 720 meters high.

Semien

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This very high waterfall is located in the Semien Mountains, a world Heritage Site, in Ethiopia. The site includes the Semien Mountain National Park. The tallest peak is Ras Dashen reaching 4,543 meters high. On your way up to the mountain’s peak, you’ll encounter notable animals like baboons, ibex and wolves.

Sumidero Cliffs

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Would you dare climb the walls of the Sumidero Canyon? This canyon, which is known as Cañón del Sumidero in Spanish, is a popular tourist attraction located in Chiapas, Mexico. Its spectacular cliffs are 900 meters above sea level.

Beachy Head

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Beachy Head’s cliff, the highest chalk sea cliff in England, UK rises to 162 meters above sea level. This place is not famous for hikers and climbers but famous for a peculiar thing. The height of Beachy Head is not that high compared to other cliffs in the world but its height has made it one of the world’s most notorious suicide spots. Since the 17th century, the place has been notorious as a location for suicide attempts with an estimated 20 attempts every year. In order to prevent more suicide attempts the Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team conducts regular day and evening patrols on the area.

Painted Wall

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The beautiful and unique Painted Wall on the north side of the Black Canyon located at the Gunnison National Park is the highest sheer cliff in Colorado at 685 meters. This national park is a popular tourist destination and contains the deepest and most dramatic section of the Black Canyon.

Cliffs of Moher

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One of the most famous natural tourist attractions of Ireland is the magnificent Cliffs of Moher (also spelled Mohair). These cliffs that provide scenic views are located in Liscannor at the south-western edge of the Burren in Ireland.

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The cliffs that boast one of Ireland’s most spectacular views rise 120 meters above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag’s Head and reach their maximum height of 214 meters. O’Brien’s Tower, dwarfed by the height of the cliff, is visible on the picture above.

See also

World’s Most Amazing Cliffs and Fascinating Dunes

For more amazing geological formations see

World’s Most Impressive Ice Formations Amazing Animal-shaped Rock Formations Bizarre Rock Formations From Around the World Unusual Rock Formations That Resemble Humans World’s Most Impressive Rock Formations