subject: The rocks that inspired 'Avatar' !!! [print this page] The rocks that inspired 'Avatar' !!! The rocks that inspired 'Avatar' !!!
The majority ofthose, who watched the 'Floating Mountains' in blockbuster movie 'Avatar' with awe, was unaware that such look-alikes really exist. In fact, they are inspired from the spectacular pillar rocks of 'ZhangjiajieNational Forest Park' in China.
The 'Zhangjiajie National Forest Park' or 'Hunan Zhangjiajie National Forest Park' is a unique national forest park located in Zhangjiajie City in northern Hunan Province in the People's Republic of China. It is the China's first national park (4,810 hectares), originally apporovedin 2001. Officially known as the "Zhangjiajie Sandstone Peak Forest National Geopark",the Park boasts a variety of animals. Exuberant forests offer them ideal habitats to live in and procreate their own species. There are more than 149 kinds of chordate animals inhabitants in this park. Among them, 28 kinds are under national protection, amongst which, are the Golden Pheasant, Rhesus Monkey, Giant Salamander and Musk Deer. Thiswas later listed as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
However, the unique and stunning geographic feature of this park is theabundantpillar-like rocks. They are result of many years of erosion caused by ice. One of the park's quartz-sandstone pillars (3,544 foot) is the Southern Sky Column'. 'Avatar' film's director and production designers drew inspiration for the floating mountains from these pillar rocks.
'Avatar' has so far made around $80 million in China, and has become the country's most popular film ever. 'Avatar' broke the seemingly insurmountable record set by 'Titanic' in little over six weeks, handing Cameron the remarkable feat of directing the world's two biggest movies of all time.
Recently, the Southern Sky Column' has been officially renamed as "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain" in honor of the film.
