Pink Granite Pinnacles and Wild Water, Victoria, Australia

(Click image to enlarge)

The ocean swells look deceptively calm in deep water but their water volume is enormous, as is the amount of energy they hold. They pack a big punch when they erupt in shallower water and against the shoreline. Along with wind and weather they have carved the ancient pink granite along this part of Victoria's coast onto tall pinnacles.

This coastal region is home for of incredibly varied wildlife that includes enormous humpback, southern right, and killer whales. In addition Australia's little penguins (aka "fairy penguins") live in burrows along the shoreline and high atop some of the cliffs. They spend their nights in the ocean feeding and their days are spent in burrows they dig along the shoreline and even high atop the rocky cliffs. These little penguins are about the size of a bowling pin, and raise their young between roughly August and February.

To my eyes the "pink granite" does not look pink in color, but that's what it is called. Similar granite elsewhere has been quarried, cut, polished, and made into various items with tones ranging from pink to gold, orange, and brown.