Mosaic Bridge area

The isthmus connecting the Tasman Peninsula and Tasmania is one of the few places on the planet where you can observe a unique geological phenomenon called the Mosaic Bridge.

Getting on the isthmus, you involuntarily pay attention to the correct shape of the cobblestones, laid in even rows along the coast. It may even seem that these are traces of a long-vanished civilization, but this is not true. The bridge is not built by people – it is created by nature itself. This is the result of natural erosion of a rare type. The local flat rocks became known as the “Mosaic pavement” for their similarity to the Roman mosaic floor.

There are two types of stones here: in the form of a pan and in the form of a loaf of bread. The first have concaveness in the middle, they are located further from the coastline, dry out faster during low tide. At this point, the salt concentration increases, and the stone is destroyed faster. Stones of the second type can be seen directly at the entrance to the water. They have a central part convex, like a hump on a bread loaf, but the edges are carved due to the mechanical impact of sand.

At low tide, large sections of the Mosaic Bridge are exposed, giving an opportunity to assess the skill of Mother Nature. Her creation looks no worse than the cobbled sidewalks of a medieval city. However, there is a significant difference: here in the cracks between the stones you can see small fish or miniature crabs that did not have time to swim away with the receding water.