natural arches
Rock bridges naturally
Natural arches are rock formations where erosion has carved an opening through stone, leaving a curved span overhead.
Wind, water, freeze-thaw cycles, and chemical weathering gradually hollow out weaker rock while harder layers remain.
Arches National Park in Utah contains over two thousand natural arches.
Distinguished from natural bridges, which form specifically from water cutting through rock.
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
- weatheringAtmospheric breakdown of materials
- sandstoneCemented grain sediment
- tourismLeisure travel sector
- freeze-thaw cyclesRepeated icing and melting
folklore · sacred sites · erosion · microclimate · nesting sites · span · habitat · aperture · national parks · curvature · water flow · geological time · photography · tectonic activity · keystone · sedimentation · granite · height
- natural wondersnorthern lights, aurora borealis, auroras, rainbows, Great Barrier Reef
- rocky terraincliffs, boulders, scree, outcrops, rockfall
- desert landformsmesa, dune, dunes, sand dunes, sand dune
- Utah Canyonlandsslot canyons, hoodoos, slickrock, red rock, sandstone cliffs
- Ennedi Plateaurock formations, rock art, canyons, caves, engravings
natural archesbridges
Structures spanning obstacles
aqueducts · triumphal arches · viaducts · stone bridges · Gateway Arch
natural archestunnels
Underground hollow pathways
caves · caverns · sea caves · lava tubes · underground passages