Spectacular Balanced Rock
Balanced Rock, one of the most iconic features of Arches National Park in Utah, stands a staggering 39m tall from the ground; the balanced rock itself is 17m tall. Another way of describing the size of that boulder on the top is that it is equivalent to the volume of three yellow American schoolbuses...
Of course, while this formation may appear to be an epic balancing act, it’s actually not balanced at all. The slick rock boulder of Entrada Sandstone sits attached to its eroding pedestal of Dewey Bridge mudstone. The exposure of these two rock strata layers are ideal for the formation of arches and balanced rocks.
Balanced Rock defies gravity but this won’t always be the case. Eventually, the 3,200 tonne boulder will tumble down as the erosional process continues to shape the landscape.
The marked path gives a limited sense of scale but there weren't many visitors around in early March to get a more human comparison! Scanned from a negative.
Spectacular Balanced Rock
Balanced Rock, one of the most iconic features of Arches National Park in Utah, stands a staggering 39m tall from the ground; the balanced rock itself is 17m tall. Another way of describing the size of that boulder on the top is that it is equivalent to the volume of three yellow American schoolbuses...
Of course, while this formation may appear to be an epic balancing act, it’s actually not balanced at all. The slick rock boulder of Entrada Sandstone sits attached to its eroding pedestal of Dewey Bridge mudstone. The exposure of these two rock strata layers are ideal for the formation of arches and balanced rocks.
Balanced Rock defies gravity but this won’t always be the case. Eventually, the 3,200 tonne boulder will tumble down as the erosional process continues to shape the landscape.
The marked path gives a limited sense of scale but there weren't many visitors around in early March to get a more human comparison! Scanned from a negative.