Classroom lesson · Sindou Peaks · 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso

Sindou Peaks

Tall rocky spires that look like a city made of stone

Photo · Wikimedia Commons

What is it?

The Sindou Peaks are a row of tall, pointed rock spires near the town of Sindou in south-west Burkina Faso. From a distance they look like towers of a city built entirely out of stone. They were carved by water and wind over thousands and thousands of years.

Tell me more

The peaks are made of a rock called limestone. Limestone is softer than granite and water can slowly dissolve it, cutting deep channels and leaving behind sharp ridges and towers. Over time, rainwater carved the Sindou Peaks into the amazing spiky shapes you see today.

Walking through the peaks feels like exploring a maze. The paths twist between walls of rock that rise high above your head, and you sometimes come out into a sunny clearing before the next rocky 'corridor' begins. The Senoufo people, who have lived in this area for a very long time, consider the peaks a special place.

Many different birds nest in the crevices of the rocky spires, and small trees and bushes grow from ledges where a little soil has collected. At sunrise and sunset, the limestone glows orange and pink, and photographers travel from all over the world to capture those colours.

The Sindou Peaks are one of Burkina Faso's most visited natural attractions. Local guides lead visitors through the narrow passages and share stories about how the rocks got their shapes. Some spires even have names based on what they are thought to look like — an elephant's head, a woman carrying a pot, and more.

In the classroom

Walk your class through this in 15 minutes.

Talk together

Discussion prompts

  1. 01Water carved the Sindou Peaks over thousands of years. Can you think of any other things that water shapes over time?
  2. 02Why do you think people might tell stories about rocks that look like animals or people?
  3. 03If you were a guide at Sindou, what name would you give to a rock spire, and why?
  4. 04How might a place look different at sunrise compared with midday?
Try this

Classroom activity

Draw the outline of three or four tall rocky spires side by side. Then colour them in two ways — once as they might look at midday (grey, white), and once as they might look at sunset (orange, pink, purple). Share with the class which version you prefer and explain why.