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| Rainbow Bridge National Monument |
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| (Navajo Nation), Utah, USA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Rainbow Bridge is the largest natural bridge on the planet, 290 feet tall and 170 feet across. This was my introduction to the geologic world of natural bridges and arches. The bridges were created over eons by bodies of water; the arches by erosion. Both formation types looked much the same and were equally impressive. One gets to Rainbow Bridge by boat, although the option of an 18 mile hike is available, with a Navajo permit. Rainbow Bridge is sacred to the Navajo and other Native Americans. The Navajo filed lawsuits to gain control of Rainbow Bridge, but had to settle for compromises with the Park Service. |
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| Tourists cannot climb Rainbow Bridge, although it's enough of a challenge trying to get a picture that is close, without losing that essential, majestic shape. The photo above was my best effort, slightly closer than the first, wider still. As shown in the video, I was going to have many additional chances to try photographing natural bridges and arches. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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TO MONUMENT VALLEY | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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TO USA TABLE OF CONTENTS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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TO HOME PAGE | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| If you have a high speed internet connection, watch the Intrepid Berkeley Explorer's free streaming video of this trip, "Dances With National Parks", by clicking on AdventurePics |
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