The geological formation Orgues d'Ille-sur-Têt with the Pyrenean Mont Canigou behind.

The geological formation Orgues d'Ille-sur-Têt with the Pyrenean Mont Canigou behind.

These beautiful formations occur where a soft friable rock is capped with a more resistant layer.

Although a small formation of hoodoos, this group contains a number of different characteristics. Known locally as organs (organ pipes) they are variously called fairy chimneys, Des demoiselles coiffées, (literally Maidens with Hats) and are technically called hoodoos. The cap layer may be large or a single stone and when the cap rock is displaced the hoodoo typically weathers into a spike. The origins of this type of formation are various and there are two main hypotheses as to why the clay beneath the cap rock becomes harder and more resistant but the outcome is that the loose surrounding clays are washed away and the columns erode at a much slower rate even after losing their cap rock. Rain is now the main erosion agent and the pipes are being slowly washed away. Pic du Canigou and the Pyrenees lie beyond.