Rainbow Bridge National Monument

By: Erin and Miranda

Picture taken by dean constantine

Formation

http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/utah/images/s/utah-rainbow-bridge.jpg

Rainbow Bridge was formed by weathering and erosion about 60 million years ago.

It was formed also formed by Bridge Creek.

Formation

http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/utah/images/s/utah-rainbow-bridge.jpg

The Colorado Plateau began a gradual uplift. As the Bridge Creek entranced itself into the landscape, scene was set for Rainbow Bridge to be formed. The creek widened its path when it hit the Kayenta sandstone because it was harder. It eventually chipped away pieces of rock to start the formation

http://tafoni.com/Other-Factors_files/Kayenta_Sandstone_Case_Hardening.jpg

Kayenta sandstone

Rainbow Bridge is composed of Kayenta sandstone at its base.

Kayenta sandstone is reddish-brown.

It was deposited and compacted hundreds of millions of years ago.

http://web.ncf.ca/jim/sand/overview/cross-strata.jpg

Navajo Sandstone

Rainbow Bridge is composed of Navajo Sandstone above its base.

The Navajo Sandstone was formed as wave after wave of sand was deposited.

Picture taken by Dean Constantine

Facts

Rainbow Bridge is located 50 boat miles northeast of the Wahweap Marina.The average summer temperature is 100 degrees F.

Douglas Cummings

http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/eyrwho/eyrwho133.jpg

Douglas was born October 1, 1866. He studied in Berlin. He visited America to check out the hospitals. He discovered Rainbow bridge in 1909.

The Navajo Indians believe rainbow bridge is sacred. They believe that rainbows represent the guardians of the universe. It is sacred by the Navajo culture as a symbol of deities responsible for creating clouds, rainbows, and rain—the essence of the life in the desert.

Religion

http://www.meadowthorpe.fcps.net/projects/native_americans/images/j0135697.gif

Picture taken by Dean Constantine

Size

Rainbow Bridge is 290 feet tall and has a span of 275 feet. At the top it is 42 feet thick and 33 feet wide.It covers 160 acres of land. It is the worlds largest natural bridge.

http://www.arizona-leisure.com/gfx/maps/rainbow_bridge_park97.pdf

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Rainbow_bridge_231MP.jpg/1800px-Rainbow_bridge_231MP.jpg

References

• http://geography.howstuffworks.com/united-states/rainbow-bridge-national-monument.htm

• http://www.utah.com/nationalsites/rainbow_bridge.htm

• http://www.desertusa.com/gc/rainbow/rainbow.html