Frozen colosseum of ice sticking to the columnar basalt walls surrounding Abiqua Falls, Oregon

Midwinter freeze

Abiqua Falls in Oregon is a beautiful example of a basalt column amphitheater. Over 90 per cent of all volcanic rock is basalt, but only a small fraction of it forms into the hexagonal columns that you see here. When molten lava hits the atmosphere, the rapid cooling of the rock causes it to contract into these characteristic columns. It's just part of what makes Abiqua Falls so spectacular.

The waterfall is on the grounds of the Mount Angel Abbey, a Benedictine monastery formed in 1882. The monastery now houses a seminary school, a library, retreat centre, and a very successful brewery. Monks and brewing have a long tradition together, with medieval monks being credited with developing the first true breweries as early as the 9th century. Lest you think the monks were just looking for a little buzz, remember that beer was such a common drink back then because it was healthier than the often polluted or diseased water generally available to the public.