ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, Utah (AP) Wall Arch, one of the largest
and most photographed formations in Utah's Arches National Park,
has collapsed.
The arch is along Devils Garden Trail, one of the most popular
in the park. The park's chief of interpretation says it fell early
last week. Paul Henderson says it was claimed by forces that will
eventually destroy others in the park: gravity and erosion. He
adds, ``They all let go after a while.''
It's the first collapse of a major arch in the southern Utah
park since nearby Landscape Arch fell in 1991. Henderson says no
one has reported seeing it fall.
Like others in the park, Wall Arch was formed by sandstone
whittled over time into its distinctive formation. It was first
reported and named in 1948 and stood more than 33 feet tall and 71
feet across. That ranked it 12th in size among the park's estimated
2,000 arches.
Park authorities have closed the portion of the trail where Wall
Arch stood until debris is cleared and what remains has been deemed
safe for visitors.