Spectacular spans
Few of Earth's formations seem to suggest an intelligent creator quite like natural arches and bridges do. But it is precisely the fact that they were moulded by the delicate hands of a heedless, indifferent sculptor - Mother Nature - that make them so awe-inspiring. Perhaps the beauty of natural arches comes from how improbable they seem.
Carved from nothing more than the weathering hand of time and Earth's own forces, here are some of the world's most wondrous natural arches.
Suggested Story: 16 surreal landscapes found on Earth
1. Landscape Arch, United States
Arches National Park in Utah hosts one of the largest concentrations of natural arches in the world, and the longest arch in the park is Landscape Arch. Spanning over 290 feet, the arch hangs precariously like an aging picture frame.
Suggested Story: 10 ancient walls you should see for yourself
2. Durdle Door, United Kingdom
This impressive limestone sea arch on the Jurassic Coast near Lulworth in Dorset, England, appears like a gateway to another dimension. The name Durdle is derived from the Old English “thirl,” meaning bore or drill.
Suggested Story: 8 beautifully colourful 'painted' hillsides
3. Moon Hill, China
This stunning natural arch just outside Yangshuo in southern China's Guangxi region gives the impression of a moon rising from the landscape. The hole is all that remains of a limestone cave. The arch is an impressive 165 feet in height.
Suggested Story: 8 beautiful places prone to natural disasters
4. Rainbow Bridge, United States
Rainbow Bridge in Utah is often described as one of the world's largest known natural bridges. It's difficult to imagine just how impressive this structure is without standing beneath it. More than 290 feet tall and nearly 275 feet across, it straddles a feeder canyon to the mighty Colorado River, improbably unbroken through time.
Suggested Story: 10 things massive enough to be seen from space
5. Pont d’Arc, France
Carved out by the Ardeche River, Pont d'Arc is a popular kayaking spot, and you can see why. This natural bridge is almost 200 feet wide and 175 feet high.
Suggested Story: 10 of the hottest places on Earth
6. The Azure Window, Malta
This limestone sea arch on the Maltese island of Gozo is a popular spot for scuba divers, but it is also potentially perilous. Like all natural arches, the Azure Window has a lifespan, and erosion rates suggest this arch could collapse completely within just a few years. You wouldn't want to be swimming beneath it when that happens.
Suggested Story: The best waterfalls in our national parks
7. Immortal Bridge, China
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
This precarious rock bridge found on Mount Tai, a tilted fault-block mountain, is counterintuitively called the Immortal Bridge, though you probably wouldn't want to test your own mortality by crossing it.
Suggested Story: 9 of the world's most majestic rivers in peril
8. Green Bridge of Wales, United Kingdom
This impressive natural sea arch is found in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in Wales. Today it is one of the more famous landmarks in Wales, but like all arches it will one day collapse into the sea.
Suggested Story: 9 amazing water caves
9. Arco Naturale, Italy
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Found on the east coast of the island of Capri, this natural arch offers a spectacular window to the sea. Dating from the Palaeolithic age, it is the remains of a collapsed grotto.
Suggested Story: 9 mountains you may never see in person
10. Delicate Arch, United States
The most famous arch in Arches National Park, Utah, Delicate Arch hangs tenuously over the sweeping landscape. Formed of sandstone gradually worn away by weathering and erosion, it appears like a keyhole to an ancient era.
Suggested Story: 10 of the best state parks in America
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please adhere to proper blog etiquette when posting your comments. This blog owner will exercise his absolution discretion in allowing or rejecting any comments that are deemed seditious, defamatory, libelous, racist, vulgar, insulting, and other remarks that exhibit similar characteristics. If you insist on using anonymous comments, please write your name or other IDs at the end of your message.