Inselbergs

Inselbergs are isolated, mainly granitic or gneissic rock outcrops, forming old landscape elements on crystalline continental shields (Barthlott&Porembski 2000). The word Inselberg was coined by Wilhelm Bornhardt in 1900 (from German Insel =island and Berg = mountain) to refer to rock outcrops rising abruptly above surrounding plains.

Based on shape they can be further divided into Monolithic inselbergs (usually dome-shaped and rise to almost few hundred meters above the landsurface), Koppjes( almost conical piles rocks formed due to special weathering) and Shield inselbergs(flat tabletops rising only about a 1-2 meters above the ground).