Ice-chilled lava columns at the end of a Glacier Peak lava flow, WA.

Impressive columns like these form along the margins of ice-confined lava flows but usually are eroded off the sides due to continued glacial movement after an eruption ceases. Columns are better preserved at the ends of the flows (this photo) where they are protected somewhat from the ice. The columns have irregular orientations due to the irregularly shaped ends of the flows against the ice, with lots of meltwater sluicing over and around the lava.