Kachina Bridge Explained

Kachina Bridge
Type:Rock arch
Map:Utah#USA
Label:Kachina Bridge
Location:Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, United States
Coords Ref:[1]
Elevation Ref:[2]

Kachina Bridge is a large natural arch located in Natural Bridges National Monument near Blanding, Utah.

Background

The bridge has a width of 44 feet and a span of 210 feet, making it the widest girth in the park and one of the longest natural arches in the United States.[1] It can be reached via a 1.4 mile round trip hike.

History

The area was first settled by early Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi) cliff dwellers as early as early as 7500 BCE.[3] The current name of the arch was given by government surveyor William Douglas. He based the name off the petroglyphs and pictographs depicted on the base of the bridge, believing that the carved figures represented Kachina dancers.[4] [5] In July 1992, Approximately 4,000 tons of sandstone fell from the inside of the Kachina bridge, enlarging the opening considerably.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: National Park Service. Kachina Bridge.
  2. 1455883. Kachina Bridge.
  3. Encyclopedia: Natural Bridges National Monument. Encyclopedia Britannica. June 28, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/place/Natural-Bridges-National-Monument#ref103745.
  4. Web site: Kachina Bridge Trail At Natural Bridges National Monument. Poppin Up USA. 29 June 2023.
  5. Web site: Kachina Bridge Overlook. Hikearizona.com.
  6. Web site: Natural Bridges National Monument, Horsecollar Ruin Site. DesertUSA.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Kachina Bridge".

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