Fact Check

Is This Phallic-Shaped Rock Real?

Too ... many ... puns!

Published June 14, 2021

 (Google)
Image Via Google
Claim:
A photograph shows a genuine phallic-shaped rock formation.

A photograph supposedly showing a phallic-shaped rock was widely shared on social media after it was posted to r/wildlypenis, a section of Reddit dedicated to "things that are not penises, but strongly resemble them," and r/mildlypenis, a section of Reddit with a similar (albeit not as strict) mission.  

This is a genuine photograph of a penis-shaped rock. This picture was taken by photographer Chris Henry in Arches National Park in Utah.

This rock formation is widely-known in the area for its phallic-resemblance. In fact, this rock formation has been known as "The Phallus" ever since it was first recorded by the United States Geological Society back in 1989. You can also see this rock formation on Google Street View.  

The Phallus is described as a 100-foot-high tower in a 2012 rock climbing guide of Utah:

The Phallus is an obvious 100-foot-high phallic tower next to the Testes on the west side of the park road past The Great Wall and before Balanced Rock. The slender tower offers an interesting, thought-provoking, and slightly scar clean-aid route up the side opposite the road. The tower is composed of the soft and crumbly Dewey Bridge Member of Entrada sandstone.

Of course, a phallic-shaped rock isn't all that unusual. If you want to see something strange, check out these similarly penis-shaped Nepenthes plants.

Dan Evon is a former writer for Snopes.