Mega Tsunami (scenes from the film San Andreas 2015). 1 Graffiti vandals deface history Wookey Hole cave: YouTube video by SWNS TV, published July 29, 2013. 2 Another Street Artist Allegedly Vandalized A National Park And Posted About It On Instagram: Article on The Huffington Post website, March 3, 2015.

Home » Rocks » What is Rock Art?

Petroglyphs on sandstone at Newspaper Rock in southwestern Utah. Image copyright iStockphoto / Jeremy Edwards.

Petroglyph: This petroglyph is thought to have been carved by Native Americans into the wall of Buckskin Gulch in southern Utah, USA. Image copyright iStockphoto / amygdala_imagery.

What is 'Rock Art'?

Long before writing was developed, people recorded events, ideas, plans, and feelings by marking them on a rock. Sometimes they carved into the stone. Sometimes they scratched off a surface coating. Sometimes they painted on the rocks. The method that they used was typically determined by the availability of a 'paint,' the hardness of the rocks, and the availability of tools that could be used to produce their message.

All of these markings are referred to as 'Rock Art.' People worldwide have been producing rock art for thousands of years. Some of their messages, produced thousands of years ago, can still be seen today. The oldest are usually found in rock shelters and caves where they are protected from the elements. However, in arid climates some examples of rock art have persisted for ten to fifteen thousand years, depending upon how the art was produced, the direction that it faces, and the type of rock used as a 'canvas.'

There are two basic types of rock art: petroglyphs and pictographs. A brief description of each is given below.

Petroglyphs: A large number of petroglyphs on a rock in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, USA. Image copyright iStockphoto / Tom Marvin.

What is a Petroglyph?

A petroglyph is an image that is carved into a rock. This 'carving' can produce a visible indentation in the rock, or it can simply be the scratching away of a weathered surface to reveal unweathered material of a different color below.

Related:A Worldwide Petroglyph Photo Gallery

The bighorn sheep carved into an orange-brown sandstone, shown near the top of this page, is a petroglyph. The artist scratched the surface of the rock with a tool. This work produced an indentation in the rock and also exposed an unweathered material of lighter color below.

The petroglyphs on 'Newspaper Rock,' shown at the top of this page, were made by scraping away the thin black coating known as 'desert varnish' from the surface of the rock. Both types of petroglyphs are common, but the ones carved into the rock have a better chance to persist through time.

Pictographs: This pictograph is believed to represent people of the Fremont Culture who used to live in what is now south-central Utah. Image copyright iStockphoto / Andrea Gingerich.

What is a Pictograph?

A pictograph is a drawing or painting that is created on a rock. Because they are merely a surface coating, pictographs tend to be less durable than petroglyphs. The ones that survive are most often found in caves, rock shelters, and areas with dry climates.

Related:A Worldwide Pictograph Photo Gallery

A variety of pigments have been used to make pictographs. Examples of these pigments include pieces of charcoal from a campfire; blood from hunted or sacrificed animals; and rock or mineral materials such as chalk, limonite, or hematite.

Vandalism? An example of recent 'rock art' that might be 'vandalism' if it was not created by the property owner. Image copyright iStockphoto / Richard Clark.

Removing graffiti: A National Park Service staff member working to remove graffiti at Arches National Park. The rocks in national parks are expected to be kept in their natural condition. Painting, carving, or marking on the rocks in any way is considered vandalism. Graffiti is a serious problem at some parks. Learn more.

Who Are the Artists?

Ancient petroglyphs do not have 'signatures' because they were produced before written words were invented. So, they cannot be attributed to a specific person. However, petroglyphs can sometimes be attributed to a specific group of people who inhabited or passed through the area where the petroglyphs occur.

Shown on this page is a photo of a rock with a large number of petroglyphs in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, USA. The rock is in a location where it can be easily seen by anyone who passes by. The images may have been made at different times because they exhibit different degrees of weathering. Some may have been made by some of the early people to inhabit this area, others could have been made by people who passed through hundreds of years later, or they could have been made recently.

Rock art is very difficult to date. However, some experts can estimate how quickly paints fade or how much time has passed since a carving was made into a rock. These methods can be used to place an approximate date on a pictograph or a petroglyph. These tests are infrequently used because they require the work of an expert who has access to specialized equipment and methods of testing.

Graffiti: This graffiti, painted on the Berlin Wall, commemorates the first holes broken through the barrier. Image copyright iStockphoto / CrazyD.

Rock Art or Vandalism?

Ancient carvings and paintings on rocks are searched for, considered to be historical treasures, and carefully protected. Modern carvings and paintings on rocks are viewed in an entirely different light. If they are produced on government land or private property without permission, they will be considered an act of vandalism. Once defaced, the rocks can be difficult or impossible to restore to their natural condition. So, if you want to produce some 'rock art,' be sure you own the property where the rock is located and be sure that the property is not subject to regulations that would prohibit changing the appearance of the rocks!

Examples of people who got in trouble for their rock art:

Wookey Hole Caves: In 2013, a group of people broke into the Wookey Hole Caves in England to paint graffiti. [1]

Joshua Tree National Park: A street artist tagged a boulder with spray paint and then posted a photo on Instagram. [2]

Juab County, Utah: Pictographs in a Utah canyon were unwittingly defaced by geology students. [3]

Sedona Red Rocks: A celebrity on vacation in Arizona carved her and her boyfriend’s names into the red rocks of Sedona. She paid $1,000 restitution - but the fine could have been as much as $5,000 and 6 months in jail. [4]

Graffiti: In some cities graffiti artists are so active that new images are painted over old almost as soon as the paint is dry. This heavily painted wall is in an alley off Queen Street in Toronto, Canada. Image copyright iStockphoto / Maytals.

Graffiti: Modern 'Rock Art'?

Today, many people still have a desire to paint on a wall for communication and personal expression. They produce an art form known as 'graffiti' on buildings, walls, railroad cars, trucks, and any flat surface they can utilize. Although many types of graffiti are very similar to 'rock art' in format and style, producing it is usually defacement of property and vandalism.

Even though some graffiti artists have become famous for their work, they do not enjoy the same freedom of expression that was enjoyed by ancient artists!

Producing graffiti on public or private property is a crime. Some cities spend millions of dollars per year to remove graffiti. If you want to become a graffiti artist, use your own property as a 'canvas' or get permission from a property owner who will enjoy your work. Before you start painting, find out if the format of your work and the content of your message are allowed to be displayed where the building is located.

Tsunami 1 Graffiti Movies & Documentaries On Netflix

Earth shattering storm, sky-high tides, fire and screams everywhere, well, this is what the site is like in the best disaster movies on Netflix. Of course, it might sound like a lot to take in for romance and drama lovers but for those love action and hilarious visuals, these movies are definitely a treat for them.

Top 10 Disaster Movies on Netflix

So, for all those who are a fan of these movies, here is a small compilation of the best disaster movies which you can watch easily on Netflix. These are the handpicked and of course the best amongst the rest so that you don’t have to waste your time checking out all the movies on Netflix.

Note: The content being displayed on Netflix is bound to the concerned region. This sparks the issue of some of the links mentioned here inaccessible to many of the users belonging to various countries. In such condition, do not forget to use some VPN services in order to manipulate your region.

Note: There are like plenty of VPN products available but I would like to recommend NordVPN service here. You just need to connect the server to USA #827 in order to access all the links mentioned here. Moreover, if you want to know about more “best VPN services” then you can check out this link.

Note: Many of the users do not have any possible knowledge about the usage of VPN services. Well, you need not to worry as I have a complete guide to the use of VPN service. You can check out this link of “How to Unblock Netflix and Watch Region Blocked Content”.

1. The Wave (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes:82%IMDb:6.7/10

The Wave is basically a Norwegian movie which is based on the theme of catastrophe drama. The movie is directed by Roar Uthaug and was released in 2015. This is the first pick for the category of the finest disaster movies on Netflix.

The movie is actually quite horrifying and take account of the events which ultimately combines together to form such a disaster which has the capability to destroy everything.

The movie shows the futuristic condition of arrival of an avalanche which ultimately results in 80 meter tall Tsunami waves. These waves are destroying everything which is coming in their way and the whole area of Geiranger is slowly submerging under water.

The movie shows the urgency of people trying to get out of this condition and specifically focuses on the life of geologist Kristian Eikjord and his family. It is surely a must watch movie if you love to watch such drama movies.

2. Into the Inferno (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes:91%IMDb:7.2/10

Into the Inferno might not be exactly one of the disaster movies but still it deserves to be in the list for sure. This is a documentary movie by director Werner Herzog and got released in 2016. The movie is a Netflix original and I think you should definitely watch it.

The film shows Werner Herzog following and exploring various locations of the world with active volcanos along with popular volcanologist and co-director Clive Oppenheimer.

I think the movie is not exactly about a disaster but surely tells about the disasters which can be up anytime soon. They explore locations like Iceland, North Korea, Indonesia, Ethiopia etc. It shows that nature can be beautiful and destructive at the same time.

I really found this documentary movie to be one of its kind disaster movies on Netflix. In fact, they also shows the belief system connected with these volcanos too. What you are gonna discover here are some breathtaking sights and amazing direction.

3. Sharknado (2013)

Rotten Tomatoes:82%IMDb:3.3/10

If you think the disaster movies on Netflix are only meant for drama and superb action or something then you are completely wrong. Sharknado is a disaster horror comedy movie which was released in 2013 and also the first movie from this movie series too.

It is directed by Anthony C. Ferrante and stars Tara Reid, Ian Ziering and John Heard in it. It is actually a made for television movie with the theme of science fiction.

The plot is actually kind of hilarious where a weird and freaky cyclone strikes on LA which causes water spouts. As a result, sharks get scooped out of the water and start attacking men. Amongst all this chaos, it features the struggle of protagonist and bar owner Fin who sets out on a mission to rescue his estranged wife April and daughter Claudia.

There are moments when you will laughing out like hell. The light hearted disaster movie got mixed reviews.

4. The Finest Hours (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes:64%IMDb:6.8/10

The Finest Hours is amongst the best movies on Netflix which comes under the category of historical drama thriller movie. It is directed by Craig Gillespie and it is based on the true events. The movie drives it story line from the Finest Hours: The True Story of the US Coast Guard’s Most Daring Sea Rescue.

Tsunami 1 Graffiti Movies & Documentaries 2017

As deadly and thrilling as it sounds, the movie actually turns out to be exactly like that. It has this amazing essence and passion for surviving and saving other people.

Tsunami 1 Graffiti Movies & Documentaries 2018

The plot is set in Coast Guard Station in Chatham, Massachusetts and starts from one of the coast guard falling in love. Well, that is the side part of the story, and it proceeds with spilling of oil tanker SS Pendleton and now starts the gruesome night of the guards being trapped in a life or death situation.

Being one of the finest disaster movies on Netflix, it shows the pain and will to survive amongst the odds in the best possible way.

5. The Great Invisible (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes:91%IMDb:6.7/10

The Great Invisible is a type of documentary but based on the theme of disaster caused by human deeds. It is directed by Margaret Brown and stars Meccah Boynton Brown, Doug Brown, Bob Cavnar in the pivotal roles playing their own characters.

This is an excellent pick under this category of disaster movies on Netflix and also got amazing reviews from critics as well as rest of the audience.

The plot of The Great Invisible is based on the incident of deepwater horizon oil rig being exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. It was the worst disastrous oil spill even in the American history which killed 11 workers.

This documentary talks about how the life of workers and their families got affected from it. It is something which was never talked about in such a way that this documentary did and it is really commendable.

Tsunami 1 Graffiti Movies & Documentaries Free

6. Alive (1993)

Rotten Tomatoes:70%IMDb:7.1/10

Alive is a perfect movie for online streaming on Netflix and despite being an old movie, it is available in good quality too. It is basically a type of biographical survival drama movie and it is based on the book Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read.

Alive is directed by Frank Marshall and it follows the story of Uruguayan Rugby Team who were the victims of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crash in Andes Mountains.

Throughout the movie, the story is narrated in form of flash back events. The surviving members of the team tells the reporters how they managed to survive in Andes and how they almost touched death in this very life.

It is an inspiring movie which is surely one of the best disaster movies on Netflix and must be watched too. Although the movie could not do wonders on box office, but it surely won the hearts of everyone including critics too with their story telling.

7. Diving into the Unknown (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes:Not AvailableIMDb:7.1/10

I really like the fact that how Netflix is capable enough to bring the best international movies from across the world for its viewers. And to be true, they are way better than the stereotypical American movies. So the next in this row is Diving into the Unknown, the next one in the list of disaster movies on Netflix.

This is a Finnish documentary movie directed by Juana Reina. The original title of this movie is actually Takaisin Pintaan.

So, the movie is centered on four Finnish cave divers who become the victim of an unfortunate event when two of them drown deep into underwater cave in Norway. Now, when authorities give up to find the bodies, seeing it is too risky, the remaining two friends decide to do it on their own.

You can see the actual footage which is shot through camera on their helmets and it is just so breathtaking that you can actually feel the danger involved in it.

8. Sharknado 2: The Second One (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes:61%IMDb:4.1/10

If you love to watch movies online then I am sure you would love this second installment of comedy and horror mix disaster movie series Sharknado. Again the plot follows the theme of science fiction and of course great puns and comic timing involved too.

The second installment sees the same star cast along with the same director too. Again this one is also a TV movie and that too the highest premiering one on Syfy Channel.

The story of this movie is proceeded from the earlier one. It sees Fin and his ex-wife April going to NYC to promote awareness about surviving in Sharknado. However, they get stuck in the next Sharknado and this time Fin needs to save his sister Ellen from all this too.

The story may be repetitive but actually kind of fun. The Sharknado series is quite entertaining and of course amongst the light hearted disaster movies on Netflix too.

9. Pandora (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes:60%IMDb:6.6/10

Pandora is actually a South Korean movie which is the next in the list of disaster movies on Netflix. It is written and directed by Park Jung-woo and stars Kim Nam-Gil in the lead role. The movie earned well on the box office even with the low budget and earned average ratings too.

So, the plot revolves around the lives of protagonists who are living in a small town in Korea and highlights the life of Jae-hyeok.

Jae lives with his mother, sister-in-law and nephew and also dating a woman named Yeon-joo. Jae works in a nuclear power plant and is worried about its deteriorating condition. One day an earthquake strikes and the plant gets exploded causes huge disaster in the entire country.

Now, Jae has to return to the site with his co-workers to stop another blast from taking place which is also like risking their lives too. A great movie to watch the struggle, panic and of course bravery of people.

10. Armaggedon (1998)

Rotten Tomatoes:39%IMDb:6.6/10

Well, for someone who loves to download movies online, Armaggedon should be there on their list for sure. It is directed by Michael Bay and based on the theme of science fiction disaster drama. The movie stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Liv Taylor and other actors in it.

So, the plot is kind of heavy to take in and focuses on a group of blue collared deep core drillers who are sent by NASA to stop an asteroid from colliding on Earth.

Well, although the ratings of this movie is not something great to look at but the commercial success that it earned was something exceptional. The movie earned more than $550 million around the world and turn out to be one of the most watched movies of that time.

Surely an incredible addition in the list of disaster movies on Netflix which is set on a huge plot and of course great visuals to be seen.

Conclusion

Of course, this is going to be too much when you will watch these disaster movies on Netflix one after the other. So, keep on taking a break or mixing up the list with movies of other genres too. Or if you want to watch more such movies then there are plenty of other options available on Netflix too.

What I really like about such movies is that the portrayal of that misery and pain is actually very commendable. It not only adds drama into the movie but wonderful sensitivity too. In fact, some of these movies here are award winning too.