49 (D-82) Arches National Park

49 (D-82) Arches National Park preserves over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, like the world-famous Delicate Arch, as well as many other unusual rock formations. The park contains the greatest density of natural arches in the world. Throughout the park, rock layers reveal millions of years of deposition, erosion and other geologic events. (Here you see a photo of Landscape Arch.)

The Park is 310 km2 in size. Its highest elevation is 5,653 feet (1,723 m) at Elephant Butte, and its lowest elevation is 4,085 feet (1,245 m) at the Visitor Center. (Look again at the map in yesterday's post.)

Since 1970, forty-three arches have fallen because of erosion.

The park receives an average of 10 inches (250 mm) of rain a year.

The area, administered by the National Park Service, was originally designated as a National Monument on April 12, 1929. It became a National Park on November 12, 1971.

Jane
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