Officials from the National Park Service reported on Friday that a notable geological formation in southern Utah, known variously as the “Double Arch,” the “Hole in the Roof,” and sometimes the “Toilet Bowl,” has collapsed. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the incident.
The collapse occurred on Thursday at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Park rangers believe that the shifting water levels and erosion caused by Lake Powell’s waves may have played a role in the arch’s collapse.
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Michelle Kerns, the superintendent of the recreation area that spans the Utah-Arizona border, highlighted that this event underscores the need to safeguard the area’s mineral resources.
The Double Arch, which was composed of 190-million-year-old Navajo sandstone from the late Triassic to early Jurassic periods, had withstood weathering from natural elements like wind and rain. The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which covers almost 2,000 square miles (5,180 square kilometers), is a popular destination for boaters and hikers.
