Arches National Park
Arches is a national park in the United States, located in Utah near the city of Moab on an area of 309 km2. The park is known for its geological formations, striking with their deep canyons, deserts, impenetrable forests, as well as the most bizarre monuments formed by erosion. There are approximately 2,000 arches in the park.
The Spaniards were the first Europeans to discover these places in 1775, when they were looking for a new route from Los Angeles and Santa Fe. In 1855, the Mormons tried to develop these lands, but due to a conflict with the Indians, this failed. In the 1880s, farmers and gold diggers settled here. One of the first to raise the issue of protecting this unique territory was Lauren Taylor, the editor of the local print edition. It wasn't until 1971 that President Richard Nixon issued a decree ordering the area to be declared a national park.
The arches were damaged by several factors: ground-based soil erosion, and underground geological processes. There used to be a sea here, which left behind salt deposits. Subsequently, sedimentary rocks began to layer on the sediments, which transformed into mountains under their weight. Almost all arches are made of pink and orange sandstone. Sometimes these types of sandstone are combined and then pink and orange words are clearly visible.
Among the other arches, the "Elegant" arch stands out, being isolated from the rest of the arches. Locals often refer to it as "Cowboy Pants" because of its distinctive shape. One of the halves of the arch is slightly thicker than the other, which gives it a certain charm, and its orange shades amaze the imagination of travelers who stop here at sunrise or sunset. In 2002, the Olympic Flame for the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City was carried under the "Elegant" arch.
Another feature of the Arches National Park is the Fire Furnace Labyrinth Tower. Until recently, tourists could easily get lost in the maze, wandering for hours in the back streets in search of a way out. Now you can only enter here with a guide. From the tower you can see stunning views of the Salt Valley, located in the center of the park.
Steven Spilber shot the movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" in Rounded Arches. Rounded arches are another famous spot in the park. From a distance, they seem quite small, but when you get closer, it becomes clear how grand these natural structures are. Another attraction of the park is a block located on a hill, it is called a Balancing stone. Many tourists are wondering why it hasn't fallen yet, and they walk around the stone several times in search of the reason.
Arki National Park is huge and it takes a lot of time to get around everything, so there are buses on tourist routes that take you to the most interesting places in the park.
It is quite hot in Arki Park in summer, the temperature reaches 40 degrees, so it is better to plan your vacation for autumn or spring. At this time, the weather in the mountainous desert is most optimal for long walks.
