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The Rise and Fall of an Arch:
Like Living Things, arches have life cycles, too. Starting as small holes in rock faces, they enlarge and eventually collapse from weathering and erosion.
Water, whether from rain or snow, dissolves the natural cement (calcium carbonate) in the Entrada Sandstone. Sand grains once "glued" together as rock are separated and washed away, arches form, grow, mature and fall.
Although there are no major arches here at Courthouse Towers, the cycle is continuing. Look for Baby Arch in the rock wall to the left of Sheep Rock. Weathering over time will enlarge this growing arch until it finally collapses. |