Tafoni

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An ancient Tafoni formation located in the mountains near San Francisco

Tafoni are cave-like features found in some deserts; of uncertain origin, they have arch-like entrances, smooth, concave walls, and flat floors covered with rock debris. They often occur in groups that can riddle a hillside, cliff, or other rock formation. The currently favored explanation for their formation is salt weathering, which would be facilitated by the slightly cooler and more humid environment inside them.

Small versions of tafoni are sometimes called alveoli; like the former, they are hypothesized to be results of salt weathering. Such tafoni are found in the Jodhpur-Ajmer section of India's Thar Desert.