The term “inselberg” (from German Insel = island and Berg = mountain) has been invented by the German geologist Wilhelm Bornhardt in 1900. Inselbergs are old landscape elements (with an age of millions of years) that occur on crystalline shields of all continents. They are mainly granitic or gneissic rock outcrops that rise more or less abrupt above their surroundings. Frequently they are dome-shaped and possess steep slopes consisting of bare rock.