# Which Natural Formations Have Fallen Apart Naturally In The Last ~100 Years? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 21, 2021, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620 "2021-05-21T13:17:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/1 "2021-05-21T13:17:43Z")
The [collapse of Darwin’s Arch](https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/galapagos-darwins-arch-collapses/index.html) in the Galapagos got me to thinking: what other naturally-occurring beautiful and magnificent things have naturally fallen apart in the last, say, century-ish? I’m asking about full destruction, if not of the whole thing, then at least the part of it that made it stand out; I’m also not talking about something looking slightly different now than it did a century ago because of erosion. Which brings me to my second point: I’m talking about things that fell apart naturally, and not because of human activity (vandalism, climate change, well-intentioned “improvements,” etc.). The thing that came most immediately came to mind, for me, was [New Hampshire’s Old Man of the Mountain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Man_of_the_Mountain) rock formation, which collapsed in 2003, presumably due to natural erosion (although I’m not qualified to say whether or not human activity played zero role in its destruction). What else? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/2 "2021-05-21T13:22:00Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > (although I’m not qualified to say whether or not human activity played zero role in its destruction). Human activity worked to prevent it’s inevitable destruction. It was a pile of rocks in the midst of a slow collapse since it was first spotted. Took some imagination to see the profile of an old man there, I’ve seen potatoes with more resemblance to Richard Nixon. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/3 "2021-05-21T13:39:26Z")
You can watch a big chunk fall from the Landscape Arch in Utah. The arch still stands but it’s only a matter of time. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4iSWGd3w1nw/maxresdefault.jpg "Utah's Landscape Arch-1991.mp4") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iSWGd3w1nw) Took a bit to find that, couldn’t remember the name, and searches are overwhelmed with reports of the Galapagos collapse. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/4 "2021-05-21T13:51:11Z")
[Azure Window](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azure_Window) in Malta collapsed a few years ago. And here’s a list of [10 fallen natural rock formations](https://webecoist.momtastic.com/2010/06/01/slip-slidin-away-10-fallen-natural-rock-formations/) Sorry, lots of dead links in that, but it does name some of them. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/5 "2021-05-21T14:00:30Z")
Much of the nose of the Indian Head in Delaware Gap has fallen in recent years. > **[The Indian Head Legend](https://www.cardcow.com/33427/delaware-water-gap-pennsylvania-indian-head-legend/)** > > The Indian Profile Rock on Mt. Tammany 1650 ft. Once upon a time a daring Chief was killed in battle upon this very sport. In commemoration of his bravery, t... ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/6 "2021-05-21T14:28:02Z")
The Old Man of the Mountain in New Hampshire, 2003. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/7 "2021-05-21T15:12:11Z")
I recall reading about someone knocking over a famous “balanced rock” in some western National Park. I supposed once pushed, it became “fallen”. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/8 "2021-05-21T15:17:30Z")
one example was Goblin Valley _State_ Park in Utah, which, because I learned that locally the balanced rocks were called “Goblins”, made me immediately think that “Goblin Toppler” should enter the American lexicon as a minced oath for jerkoffs. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/9 "2021-05-21T15:41:40Z")
[Natural Bridges State Beach](https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/541/files/NaturalBridgesSBFinalWebLayout2015.pdf) in Santa Cruz, CA comes to mind. There used to be three connected arches, but only one remains. Not sure of a tree counts, but in Yosemite, the famous [Jeffrey Pine atop Sentinel Dome](https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Yosemite-landmark-falls-Sentinel-Dome-s-2574496.php#photo-2703568) died and eventually fell down in recent years. Here is Adams’ photo of the live tree I think from the 1940s: > **[Jeffrey Pine, Sentinel Dome](https://shop.anseladams.com/products/jeffrey_pine_sentinel_dome?variant=31415627087939)** > > Overview > > Of all the American landscapes that Ansel Adams immortalized through his images, Yosemite was the most deeply personal. In Yosemite he discovered his spiritual home and built his family. He first visited the Park in 1916 and he returned... In Calaveras Big Trees State Park in California, the [Tunnel Tree fell over in a storm](https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/09/508919216/iconic-sequoia-tunnel-tree-brought-down-by-california-storm) not too long ago. There are photos of people and the tree from the 1800s. I have photos of my family walking thru the tree as well. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/10 "2021-05-21T15:47:39Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > I recall reading about someone knocking over a famous “balanced rock” in some western National Park. I supposed once pushed, it became “fallen”. It was in Utah, in 2014, and got a lot of press at that time. [https://www.cnn.com/2014/01/31/us/utah-boulder-boy-scouts/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2014/01/31/us/utah-boulder-boy-scouts/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/11 "2021-05-21T15:56:13Z")
Niagara Falls is naturally retreating albeit at a slower rate in recent years. One of the more spectacular rockfalls there was the 1954 Prospect Point collapse. I remember a few falls from the 70’s and 80’s when I was living in the area although some of those were aided by engineers so they would happen in a controlled manner. [Prospect Point Newsreel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH8lsTO9Lsk) ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/12 "2021-05-21T16:00:05Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > You can watch a big chunk fall from the Landscape Arch in Utah. The arch still stands but it’s only a matter of time. > . It’s doomed the second a coyote chases a road runner under it. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/13 "2021-05-21T16:09:59Z")
@Pixel_Dent “risking life and limb, and cameras too!” lol ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_G](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_g/32/5080_2.png) [@Steven\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_G)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/14 "2021-05-21T16:22:24Z")
Marsden Rock [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsden\_Rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsden_Rock) ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/15 "2021-05-21T16:29:57Z")
And similarly, Percé Rock. > **[Percé Rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perc%C3%A9_Rock)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > Percé Rock (French: Rocher Percé, lit. 'pierced rock') is a huge sheer rock formation in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence on the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula in Québec, Canada, off Percé Bay. Percé Rock appears from a distance like a ship under sail. It is one of the world's largest natural arches located in water and is considered a geologically and historically rich natural icon of Quebec. It is a major attraction in the Gaspésie region. > The massive ... ETA: Granted, the last big collapse happened quite a bit longer than 100 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/16 "2021-05-21T16:46:34Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > The Old Man of the Mountain in New Hampshire, 2003. Curious–did you stop reading the OP after the title, or just after the first paragraph? ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/17 "2021-05-21T17:07:59Z")
Seems to be continually changing, and “they” predict it will completely collapse soon. > **[Old Man of Hoy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Man_of_Hoy)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The Old Man of Hoy is a 449-foot (137-metre) sea stack on Hoy, part of the Orkney archipelago off the north coast of Scotland. Formed from Old Red Sandstone, it is one of the tallest stacks in the United Kingdom. The Old Man is popular with climbers, and was first climbed in 1966. Created by the erosion of a cliff through hydraulic action some time after 1750, the stack is not more than a few hundred years old, but may soon collapse into the sea... ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/18 "2021-05-21T18:33:48Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > You can watch a big chunk fall from the Landscape Arch in Utah. The arch still stands but it’s only a matter of time. there’s a story that :Landscape Arch and Delicate Arch (the more famous one shown at the beginning of that video) had their names accidentally interchanged. It’s probably apocryphal, but I do prefer the names the other way around The **Azure Window** (which appeared in the original 1981 **Clash of the Titans** ) colapsed four years ago > **[Azure Window Collapses | NABS Blog](https://www.naturalarches.org/blog/azure-window-collapses/)** ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/19 "2021-05-21T18:38:13Z")
In an inverse of the OP, Kapoho Bay on the big island of Hawaii was completely filled in by a lava flow a few years ago. > **[Hawaii Volcano: Lava Flow Completely Fills The Beautiful Kapoho Bay](https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2018/06/06/hawaii-volcano-lava-flow-completely-fills-the-beautiful-kapoho-bay/?sh=7d668f83491e)** > > Hawaii's Kilauea volcano claimed its latest victim, the picturesque Kapoho Bay as it filled the bay with molten lava flows. Overnight, hundreds of homes were destroyed as rivers of lava poured into oceanfront communities. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/20 "2021-05-21T20:45:59Z")
There are a lot of observation points in the Yellowstone canyon, where you can go down a boardwalk stair to a railinged platform, and get some spectacular views. There are also the remains of a lot of other such points that have since eroded away. The points themselves might not be all that notable, but the views from them are. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620.md?page=2)