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Natural Bridges National Monument is located in the headwaters region of White Canyon. White Canyon drains northward into Lake Powell (Glen Canyon) in the vicinity of Hite, Utah. The bright (white) colored rock is the Cedar Mesa Sandstone (Permian age). The red mesas/ridgelines of the surrounding upland consists of slope-forming Chinle Formation capped by cliffs of Wingate Sandstone (both of Triassic age). |
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Sipapu Arch is one of three large natural bridges in White Canyon in the park. The three natural bridges formed where meandering streams eroded the canyon walls, forming holes that cut through narrow meanders in the incised canyon. |
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Kachina Arch is perhaps the newest arch, having a small opening relative to the other two natural bridges (Sipapu and Owachomo). To learn more about Natural Bridges National Monument check out the National Park Service website at: http://www.nps.gov/nabr/. |
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Stratigraphy after: Huntoon, J.E., Stanesco, J.D., Dubiel, R.F., and Dougan, J., 2000, Geology of Natural Bridges National National Monument, Utah: In Geology of Utah's Parks and Monuments, Sprinkel, D.A., Chidsey, T.C., and Anderson, P.B., eds., Utah Geological Association Publication 28., p. 233-249. Stratigraphic unit information is modified from the USGS GeoLex (Lexicon of Geology): http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Geolex/geolex_qs.html. A generalized geologic time scale is available at: http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/coloradoplateau/timescale.htm. |
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