Rainbow Bridge

 arch, nature conservation park / area, interesting place, stone/rock feature, tourist attraction

“Rainbow Bridge” is one of the most interesting monument in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah, USA, in the Oljato-National Monument census-designated place (called “Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii” in Diné Bizaad [Navajo language], i.e. “Rocks Valley”). The National Park Service reports that it is visited by over 300,000 people annually.

It is often described as the world's largest natural bridge, but the technical differences between a “natural bridge” and a “natural arch” are rather discussed topics for the specialists.

Two other natural arches in southern Utah, Kolob Arch and Landscape Arch, have been confirmed as longer than Rainbow Bridge, but these are considered as arches, not bridges. With an impressive height of 246 ft (75 m), it is taller than either of its “competitors”, but it is outdone by both Aloba Arch at 394 ft (120 m), itself smaller than Tushuqtash (sometimes called “Shipton's Arch”; Uyghur name: توُشوُقتاش , Tushuqtash — “Hole Stone”; 天洞 , Tiāndòng — “Hole [towards] Heaven” in Chinese) in the Uyghur Region in China (新疆 / شىنجاڭ - “Xīnjiāng” for the Chinese government), at an estimated 1,200 ft (366 m).

Whatever the classification, Rainbow Bridge is one of the most famous example of a natural arch. It is the most accessible of the large arches of the world, due to its location and because it can be reached by a two-hour boat ride on Lake Powell (from Wahweap, near Page, AZ) or by hiking overland, with an authorisation delivered by the Diné Bikéyah (Navajo Nation): the place is sacred both for the Diné and the Hopiit (Hopi).

It has served as a source of inspiration for many writers and artists since.


To learn more about this remarkable natural monument, see —

• Rainbow Bridge National Monument (U.S. National Park Service): www.nps.gov/rabr/

• Rainbow Bridge (Natural Arch and Bridge Society) : www.naturalarches.org/big9-3.htm

• Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (US NPS): www.nps.gov/glca/

• Oljato-National Monument CDP: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_Valley,_Utah

• San Juan County: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan_County,_Utah

• Monument Valley (Utah HomeTownLocator): utah.hometownlocator.com/zip-codes/data,zipcode,84536.c...

• Rainbow Bridge National Monument (with a video tour, delivered by “DesertUSA”): www.desertusa.com/gc/rainbow/rainbow.html

• United States Geological Survey map - Rainbow Bridge: www.topozone.com/map.asp?lon=-110.964444&lat=37.076944&...

• IUCN — International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources: www.iucn.org/

• List of National Monuments of the United States: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_National_Monuments_of_the...


As well as definitions about what is a…

• Natural arch (as defined by the NABS): www.naturalarches.org/archinfo/faq.htm#whatis

• What is the difference between a natural arch and a natural bridge? (NABS): www.naturalarches.org/archinfo/faq.htm#bridge

• Natural Arch Classification and Taxonomy (NABS): www.naturalarches.org/archinfo/classification.htm


And more about comparable wonders —

• Tushuqtash (توُشوُقتاش): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tushuk_Tash

• Aloba Arch (Ennedi, Chad): www.naturalarches.org/big10-5.htm

• Kolob Arch: www.naturalarches.org/big9-2.htm

• Landscape Arch: www.naturalarches.org/big9-1.htm


… Without forgetting the Native Americans and their rights —

• Navajo Nation Government: www.navajo.org/#

• Diné (Navajo People): navajopeople.org/

• Respect for Hopi Knowledge: www.nau.edu/~hcpo-p/current/hopi_nis.htm


Full “address”: Rainbow Bridge National Monument, Piute Farms Road, Oljato-Monument Valley, San Juan Co., UT 84536