Arches National Park

Arches National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Location	Utah, USA
Nearest city	Moab, UT
Area	76,679 acres (310.3 km²) {76,546 acres (309.8 km²) federal}
Established	April 12, 1929 ( Monument ) November 12, 1971 ( Park )
Visitors	860,181 (in 2007)
Governing body	U.S. National Park Service
Entrance fee	$5/person or $10/vehicle for 7 days
Website	NPS - Arches

Delicate Arch with the La Sal Mountains in the distance (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

Arches National Park preserves over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, like the world-famous Delicate Arch, as well as many other unusual rock formations. In some areas, the forces of nature have exposed thousands of years of geologic history. The extraordinary features of the park create a landscape of contrasting colors, landforms and textures that is unlike any other in the world.

The entrance to Arches is located 5 miles north of Moab, in Eastern Utah along Highway 191. The park was established in 1929 and covers 82,953 acres.

Arch Collapses

Gravity and erosion have caused a couple of arch collapses. Landscape Arch fell in 1991. The Wall Arch collapsed in August 2008.

Sources

• Official Website
• NPS Visitor Guide
• Student Guide
• Virtual Tour of Arches National Park
• The New American Desk Encyclopedia, Penguin Group, 1989