The most photographed stone arch in Arches National Park collapsed

[JP]

updated 03/31/2011 20:22:56 PM ET

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, Utah — The most photographed stone arch in Arches National Park has collapsed.


Delicate Arch fell sometime early Wednesday, though no one has reported seeing it collapse, said Paul Henderson, the park's chief of interpretation. Henderson believes the arch fell in the overnight hours.

He said the arch, located 1.5 miles from the parking area at Wolfe Ranch, was claimed by forces that will eventually destroy other arches in the park: gravity and erosion.

"They all let go after a while," he said Thursday. Nevertheless, it was the first collapse of a major arch in the park since nearby Wall Arch fell in 2008.

For years, Delicate Arch had been a favorite stopping point for photographers. Like others, it was formed by entrada sandstone being whittled over time into its distinctive formation.

Measuring more than 52 feet tall, Delicate Arch stood out from the rest, being a freestanding natural arch. The arch was originally known as "the Chaps" and "the Schoolmarm's Bloomers" by locals, but it was given its current name by Frank Beckwith in 1933. Henderson said, "It's going to be a sad day in the park not having the most photographed and visited arch in modern time anymore."

Officials from the National Park Service and the Utah Geological Survey visited the site yesterday and confirmed that erosion is the culprit in the collapse.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Udink]

Grr...that Dean Potter!

[JP]

I guess this is the best for this and not in Environmental.

[Scott Card]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Oh wait. This wasn't the joke?

[erial]

Yep, they all let go after a while even on april first.

[mhambi]

Well, I for one am glad. I hated that friggen arch.

[moabfool]

FINALLY! Now we can open that trail to ATVs. I'll detail the collapse in full color when I'm there next weekend. I blame all the hot air from the Global Warming alarmists.

[mhambi]

Wow. I thought this was a joke... but I guess the first pics are coming in...






Looks like most of the rubble fell down that south slope.

[accadacca]

Oh man, that sucks!

[StudChild]

You need to fix the shadow too.

[Katytiger]

This is bullcrap if this copyrighted 2011 and in 2016 I went to Delicate Arch and saw it was still up there is no way this is real.

[Clipped_in]

This is bullcrap if this copyrighted 2011 and in 2016 I went to Delicate Arch and saw it was still up there is no way this is real.

Well, the winter solstice was yesterday but it's still over 4 months until April 1st...

[oldno7]

bogley-----the first to post false news reports.

bogley continues to lead.....

trendsetters

[Iceaxe]

That was a funny April Fool's..... And 5 years later it's still catching fish.

[Rob L]

Two in one day...Katy AND Clipped in. [Said with tongue in cheek!]

But we should welcome new members, so welcome, both . Many of us are not too bad...I promise!

Rob

[Pixelgamer5631]

Honestly I don't think this is real. It hasn't ever been on the news any ware except here and when you look it up there is only one photograph of the arch fallen over and with simple research on the background I could tell it was not real. There is one other thing, I can find photographs of the arch in 2016 (now when this posted)

[twotimer]

Derp

[Udink]

Honestly I don't think this is real. It hasn't ever been on the news any ware except here and when you look it up there is only one photograph of the arch fallen over and with simple research on the background I could tell it was not real. There is one other thing, I can find photographs of the arch in 2016 (now when this posted)

Nope, it's totally real. Here, I found another photo showing the collapsed arch:

[rockgremlin]

OH NO!! This saddens me!!










LOL...:)

[accadacca]

Horrible...