The arch before it collapsed/NPS file
A well-known arch at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area along Lake Powell, nicknamed "Toilet Bowl" as well as "Hole in the Roof" and other names, has collapsed.
Rangers say the arch, located in Rock Creek Bay, collapsed on Thursday, although a park release did associate a cause. The “Double Arch” geologic feature was also referred to as “Crescent Pool.”
No injuries were reported to have resulted from the collapse.
Double Arch was formed from 190-million-year-old Navajo sandstone originating in the late Triassic to early Jurassic periods, park staff said.
Since formation, this fine-grained sand feature has been subject to spalling and erosion from weather, wind, and rain. Changing water levels and erosion from wave action is suspected of contributing to the ultimate collapse of the arch.
After the arch collapsed/NPS August 9, 2024
"This event serves as a reminder of our responsibility and need to protect the mineral resources surrounding Lake Powell. These features have a life span that can be influenced or damaged by manmade interventions," said Glen Canyon Superintendent Michelle Kerns. "While we don’t know what caused this collapse, we will continue to maintain our resource protection efforts on Lake Powell for future generations to enjoy. Please enjoy our resources but leave no trace.”
Comments
Hear hear! Well said. I went through the replies hoping that SOMEBODY had the brains to point out the obvious to the people who did not!
We hastened it by damming the river, which raised the water levels to swamp its base. It is true that all arches formed by nature will eventually fall, but putting water up against and under a sandstone arch is going to cause it to fail sooner. Sandstone is only compressed sand, after all.
We humans are so quick to assign blame to natural occurences, especially if it advances our political agenda. The party line that man has caused all things that are undesireable is taking credit for things far beyond our ability to control. Nature created this arch over a period of millions of years. Blowing sand piled up and eventually turned to stone. More sand blowing and water flowing over this area caused the sandstone to erode. This is an ongoing process, it happens so slowly that we see these things as unchanging. The earth continues to evolve. The climate change we get so concerned about is natural. Ice ages have come and gone. Giant comets have hit the earth causing unimaginable changes. To believe that we have caused or can control the climate is crazy.