Rainbow Bridge National Monument

One of the greatest wonders of the world – the beautiful bridge from pink sandstone where action of Indian legends is developed, was bent over the rocky plain of the southern part of the State of Utah as if the rainbow turned into a stone. As in a mirror. Smooth lines and remarkable symmetry of the Bridge rainbow accurately appear against the crystal-clear sky and without uniform defect are reflected in the river Bridge-Creek flowing below. Navajos consider this place sacred. Fragile future. The fragile arch, thickness of one of support of which of all 1,8m, was formed of rather soft breed of sandstone. And it means that this graceful construction is fated to live very not for long. The Indians of a payyuta and Navajos inhabiting the southern part of Utah composed legends of a mysterious “rainbow from a stone”, however exact location of this huge stone arch repeating in a form and a coloring a rainbow heavenly was known only to the little. Intrigued with stories about this miracle located somewhere near the mountain of the Navajo, three daredevils in 1909 moved off through deserts and twisting canyons in its searches. Having passed the most formidable territories of North America, they saw a huge arch rainbow. The opened show caused reverential delight in riders. The arch in accuracy repeated the real rainbow not only in a form, but also on paints. Under the clear clear sky usually pinkish stone looked dark-lilac, in the light of the sun before sunset, the streaks speckling it seemed henna-red. This graceful bridge 94 m long from sandstone – the biggest and perfect natural education of this kind. It connects canyon 85 m wide slopes. Its height – 88 m from the basis to the highest point – the little surpasses belltower height Ivan the Great in the Kremlin; stone thickness – 13 m, and width – 10m-is sufficient for placement of the two-way highway. The unknown sizes and beauty of “rainbow” induced the American President Theodor Roosevelt to proclaim it the greatest miracle of the nature. Soaring up from the rock with which it once made a whole, the powerful arch flies over a narrow tape of the river Bridge-Creek. In the millennia of its water and abrasive deposits undermined and washed away the boulder basis until from it there was only this air arch. And wind polished the turned-out stone sculpture. For Navajos the Bridge rainbow – the sacred place, and archeological finds confirm that once numerous pilgrims were flown down here. However pass to this wonder of the world hidden in a narrow canyon is so complicated that when the first party of white reached it, it became clear to them why knew about exact location of this amazing creation of the nature only the few from local Indians. In 1910 the arch was declared by national property, but broad access to it Glen Canyon was open only in 1963 with construction of a dam. The lake formed as a result Powell increased water level in the river Colorado: instead of 20 km of dangerous tracks visitors received convenient water crossings. In Utah hundreds of similar arches from sandstone, more than 200 of them – in National park of arches in 300 km are located to the North from the Bridge rainbow. One more miracle it is possible to call the Landscape arch – thanks to flight in 89 m it is considered the longest natural bridge in the world. Its bend is extraordinary graceful. Fragile and thin – thickness of one of segments of an arch of only 1,8 m, this bridge rises by height about 30 m over a canyon bottom. One more subject of pride of park – the Gentle arch in popular speech called for the forms “Attire of the Old Maid”. Rising above the seven-story building on border of a lonely hollow, it serves as a graceful frame for the mountains which are seen behind it La-Sal.

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