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Geological formation “Double Arch” in southern Utah collapses


Geological formation “Double Arch” in southern Utah collapses

Utah’s famous “Double Arch” collapses


Utah’s famous “Double Arch” collapses

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A large geological structure in southern Utah known as the “Double Arch,” “Hole in the Roof” and sometimes “Toilet Bowl” has collapsed, National Park Service officials said Friday. No injuries were reported.

The popular arch in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area collapsed on Thursday, and park rangers suspect fluctuating water levels and wave erosion in Lake Powell contributed to its collapse.

Utah's famous "Double sheet" geological formations collapse
An aerial view following the collapse of the Double Arch geological formation in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah. August 9, 2024.

National Park Service


Michelle Kerns, director of the recreation area along the Utah-Arizona border, said the collapse was a reminder to protect the natural resources around the lake.

“These features have a lifespan that can be affected or damaged by human intervention,” she said in a statement.

The arch was formed from 190 million-year-old Navajo sandstone from the late Triassic to early Jurassic period. The fine-grained sandstone has withstood erosion from weather, wind and rain, the statement said.

The recreation area covers nearly 2,000 square miles and is popular with boaters and hikers.

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