MOST AMAZING NATURAL ARCHES
Contd. From last week:
Moon Hill, Yangshuo, China
  Moon Hill is just one of many arches and natural bridges found
throughout Yangshuo County in Guilin, southern China. Millions of years
of erosion has carved the Karst Limestone bedrock of the area into
phantasmagorical shapes that seem to defy the laws of gravity. Moon Hill
is perhaps the most famous arch in the region. This huge window takes on
the appearance of a crescent moon whose phases vary depending on one's
viewing location.
Sheer vertical drops and copious handholds in the rough limestone
have made Yangshuo into a rock climber's paradise. In the past decade or
so, dozens of professional outfits have been formed to ensure climbers
enjoy the best possible recreational experience along with more than
acceptable service and safety infrastructure.
London Arch, Australia
  Located in Port Campbell National Park, Victoria state, Australia,
London Arch lies just offshore where it is continually pounded by ocean
waves and tidal swells.
London Arch was formerly part of London Bridge, a spectacular
double-arched formation connected to the shoreline. On January 15, 1990,
the arch nearer the shore suddenly collapsed stranding two visitors on
the suddenly isolated remaining arch.
The Azure Window, Malta
  The Azure Window, or Tieqa Zerqa, is a natural arch formed millions
of years ago when a limestone cave collapsed. The arch can be found on
the island of Gozo in Malta. One of the larger sea arches and one of
Malta's most popular tourist attractions as well, The Azure Window
offers viewers a 50 meter (164 ft) high window on the deep blue
Mediterranean Sea.
Nothing lasts forever and The Azure Window is no different. Maltese
authorities have warned visitors not to get too close to the arch as a
number of rock falls from its roof have raised safety issues. It's
estimated that The Azure Window's remaining lifespan can be measured in
years, if that.
Shipton's Arch, China
  Shipton's Arch, or Tushuk Tash in the local Uyghur language, can be
found in the rugged badlands of Kashgar, in western China's Xinjiang
Uyghur Autonomous Region. Finding it wasn't easy: the formation was
unknown to western observers until British mountaineer George Shipton
discovered it in 1947. Recognized today as the tallest natural stone
arch on Earth, Shipton's Arch stands 365 meters (1,200 ft) tall -
roughly the height of the Empire State Building.
This huge natural arch was "lost" for some time after Shipton
publicized it; it had been listed in the Guinness World Book of Records
for a time but was dropped after the editors could not ascertain its
exact location. It wasn't until the year 2000 that a team of researchers
from National Geographic made a successful expedition to Shipton's Arch
and documented its soaring magnificence.
Like sunsets, stone arches and bridges are ephemeral in nature - a
quality that only enhances their stark beauty. By viewing and studying
their rise and fall, one can truly appreciate the incredible length of
time required for earth's geological processes to run their course.
 -webecoist.com
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