The Pinnacles is a vast area within Nambung National Park in Western Australia, characterized by thousands of weathered limestone pillars.
These formations vary in height and shape, resembling columns or tombstones. The limestone beds show a cross-bedding structure, indicating changes in wind patterns during formation.
The Pinnacles were formed from seashells in an earlier era rich in marine life. There are three main theories about their formation. The first suggests they are dissolutional remnants of Tamala limestone, resulting from extensive solutional weathering. The second theory proposes that they were formed through the preservation of tree casts buried in coastal aeolianites. The third theory suggests that plants played a role in their creation, similar to the formation of smaller "root casts" elsewhere.
The Pinnacles are home to various wildlife, including Western Grey Kangaroos, Baudin's Black Cockatoos, Emus, and reptiles like bobtails, sand goannas, and carpet pythons. The area also boasts a variety of plant species, such as panjang, coastal wattle, banjine, quandong, yellow tailflower, thick-leaved fanflower, and cockies tongues, as well as parrot bush, candlestick banksia, firewood banksia, and acorn banksia.
Nambung National Park, including the Pinnacles desert, attracts around 150,000 visitors annually. The Pinnacles Desert Discover Centre provides interpretive displays about the park's natural processes and biodiversity. The best time to visit is from August to October, when the weather is mild and wildflowers, including wattle, are in bloom. Visitors can find accommodations in Cervantes, as there are no lodging or