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In the state of Utah, meandering streams cut through sandstone walls and formed three natural bridges, Sipapu, Kachina, and Owachomo.
Natural Bridges National Monument, the first National Park service established in Utah, is over 6,000 feet above sea level. Wild animals live here, from lizards to black bear. Ancient people found this area to be an ideal home. Over 200 archaeological sites are in the park.
A 9-mile paved loop road, Bridge View Drive, runs along the mesa above the natural bridges where one can look down on these bridges. Parking along drive provides views; one can take a walk down to the bridges for better appreciation of nature's construction.
The Hopi Indians use the term, Sipapu, to apply to the opening under the bridge to another world. Therefore, Sipapu became the name of one of the bridges. Sipapu Bridge is considered to be middle aged. This bridge has taken thousands of years to form. The rounded corners and smooth sides give evidence of countless floods that have carved away rock and sand.
The Sipapu Bridge, the second largest natural bridge in the world, has a height of 220 feet, a span of 268 feet, a width of 31 feet, and a thickness of 53 feet. To walk the trail of this magnificent bridge, ladders, stairs, and switchbacks are provided. To return to your car after you get to the base of the bridge, can be by back tracking or you can continue down White Canyon. The canyon loop trail will then take you to Kachina and Owachomo Bridges.
Three miles beyond Sipapu Bridges is Kachina Bridge that drops about 400 feet downward into the valley. Leading to the bridge are uneven steps, switchbacks, and a steep section of slick rock with handrails.
Kachina Bridge is a young bridge with a thick chunky look. It is 210 feet high, a span of 204 feet, a width of 44 feet, and it 93 feet thick. Dancing figures are carved on the base of the bridge.
In June 1992, about 4,000 tons of sandstone fell from the inside of the Kachina Bridge enlarging the opening.
Owachomo Bridge is the oldest of the three bridges, but is the smallest. Owachomo in Hopi language means "rock mound" and was named after the rock formation on top of the east end of the bridge.
This bridge is 106 feet high, 27 feet wide, a span of 180, and is nine feet thick. Early in the monument's development, a dirt road ran to Owachomo Bridge from the south. There were no other roads to the other bridges at the time except to hike or by packhorse.
The Owachomo is the most fragile, but the most elegant, of the three spans. It is an awe-inspiring feature of erosion.
These three bridges have taken many thousands of years to form, but someday they will collapse as erosion changes nature in time.
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