Clay Cliffs – Paritea

A visit to the Clay Cliffs, a natural rock formation 10 km west of Omarama is a must-do while in Omarama.

The Clay Cliffs

The Clay Cliffs

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The Clay Cliffs are huge sharp pinnacles and ridges with deep, narrow ravines separating them. The Clay Cliffs are made of layers of gravel and silt, deposited by rivers flowing from glaciers existing 1-2 million years ago. Compared to the nearby mountains, which are 250 million years old, the Clay Cliffs are relatively new. Today the gravel and silt layers can be seen as sloping bands as the strata have been tilted since their deposition 1-2 million years ago.