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Margie | profile | all galleries >> National Parks/Monuments/ State Parks Gallery >> Time Stands Still at Arches National Park tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Time Stands Still at Arches National Park

Arches National Park is a U.S. National Park in eastern Utah. It is known for preserving over 2000 natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch, in addition to a variety of unique geological resources and formations. The major formations visible in the park today are the salmon-colored Entrada Sandstone, in which most of the arches form, and the buff-colored Navajo Sandstone. These are visible in layer cake fashion throughout most of the park. Over time, water seeped into the surface cracks, joints, and folds of these layers. Ice formed in the fissures, expanding and putting pressure on surrounding rock, breaking off bits and pieces. Winds later cleaned out the loose particles. A series of free-standing fins remained. Wind and water attacked these fins until, in some, the cementing material gave way and chunks of rock tumbled out. Many damaged fins collapsed. Others, with the right degree of hardness and balance, survived despite their missing sections. These became the famous arches.
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No-name arch forming
No-name arch forming
Jeff on slick rock
Jeff on slick rock
Salt Valley with LaSal Mtns
Salt Valley with LaSal Mtns
Fiery Furnace
Fiery Furnace
Fiery Furnace
Fiery Furnace
Jeff waits  ... and  waits ...
Jeff waits ... and waits ...
Garden of Eden
Garden of Eden
Garden of Eden
Garden of Eden
The Windows
The Windows
No. Window Arch
No. Window Arch
Double Arch
Double Arch
Double Arch
Double Arch
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