natural bridges
Rock-carved crossings overhead
Natural bridges are rock formations where flowing water has eroded an opening through stone, creating an arch that spans a waterway or dry channel.
Unlike natural arches formed primarily by wind and frost, natural bridges result from stream erosion cutting through rock over millennia.
Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah contains three massive stone spans.
- rock formationNatural stone arrangement
- Colorado RiverMajor southwestern American waterway
- weatheringAtmospheric breakdown of materials
- wind erosionLand worn by air
- hoodoosCurses or stone columns
erosion · arch · gorge · karst · canyon · sandstone · limestone · alcove · butte · mesa · riverbed · sediment · national monument · scenic overlook · hiking trail · span · geological wonder · connection
- landformsmountain, cliff, valley, volcano, mountain ridge
- American geologyGrand Canyon, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountains, Appalachians, Sierra Nevada
- Canyon Geologybuttes, mesas, cliffs, canyon walls, slot canyons
- GeotourismGrand Canyon, Yellowstone, cave tours, hot springs, fossil sites
- Red Rock Countryred rock, red sand, slickrock, hoodoos, arches
- rock archessandstone arch, sea arch, span, arches, sandstone arches
origin/formation
natural bridgessteel bridges
Metal structures crossing gaps
suspension bridges · concrete bridges · viaducts · aqueducts · footbridges