A popular rude rock feature article that place upright for jillion of age has come crashing down into Lake Powell in Utah ’s Glen Canyon National Recreation Area . fuck as the Double Arch , the stunning geologic attractive feature had been one of the park ’s most visited beauty spots , but collapsed on Thursday , August 8 .
Also get it on as the Toilet Bowl , Crescent Pool , and the Hole in the Roof , the hypnotise structure formed from 190 - million - year - old Navajo sandstone and had the appearance of an tremendous fanlight in a grot , grant sunlight to straighten out a glisten temporary hookup of pee in Rock Creek Bay . fit in to astatementfrom the National Park Service ( NPS ) , the ancient construction had been shape and warped by the ingredient since its establishment , have it to continually erode and break apart .
This cognitive process may have been tempt by thechanging shoreline of Lake Powell , which the NPS enunciate has beendeclining since 2001as a resolution of climate change and a extend drouth . “ Changing water levels and erosion from wafture action is suspected of contributing to the ultimate collapse of the archway , ” confirm the federal representation ’s command .
Double Arch as it was before Thursday’s collapse. Image credit: National Park Service.
“ This event serve as a monitor of our responsibility and need to protect the mineral resources surround Lake Powell , ” tote up Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Superintendent Michelle Kerns . “ These features have a biography span that can be influenced or damaged by manmade interventions . While we do n’t know what have this collapse , we will continue to maintain our imagination tribute travail on Lake Powell for future multiplication to revel , ” she tell .
Stretching from Lees Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southerly Utah , the Glen Canyon National Park cover an area of around 5,060 substantial klick ( 1.25 million land ) and include several humans - renowned lifelike landmarks . Among these are the enormously pop Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River and Rainbow Bridge , which is among the earth ’s big natural bridges .
Fortunately , the NPS was able to support that no one was injured by thecollapseof the Double Arch . Yet with millions of tourists slide by through thenational parkeach yr , Kerns highlights the indigence for all visitor to respect the delicate nature of these ancient rude wonders .
“ Please bask our resources but leave no trace , ” she says .
