# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/21 "2021-05-21T21:01:00Z")
Our nearby [Camel Rock](https://ladailypost.com/camel-rock-has-lost-its-mouth/) lost its mouth in 2017. At first they considered the possibility of vandalism, but ultimately ruled it just a case of natural forces. Tripler T’was a big local news story when it happened. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/22 "2021-05-21T22:06:28Z")
The [Twelve Apostles](https://www.australiantraveller.com/vic/great-ocean-road/twelve-apostles-explained/) are a spectacular series of limestone pillars almost in the water along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. The actual number keeps changing depending on when they fall or become stubs, but one major one went in 2005 and another shortly after in 2009. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/23 "2021-05-21T22:37:42Z")
To be a pedant,[the 2009 collapse was one of the nearby Three Sisters](https://www.traveller.com.au/sister-not-apostle-crumbles-into-sea-g87j), but the coastline along the Great Ocean Road has plenty of these features which are periodically collapsing, and presumably infrequently being created. ---
**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, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/24 "2021-05-21T22:40:09Z")
Disregard. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2021, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/25 "2021-05-21T23:27:25Z")
There was a natural bridge in upstate NY that fell, they still call it natural bridge but the bridge part is no longer there, just the water into the rock remains, so it’s more of a natural drain pipe now. In the upper falls of Bash Bish falls in MA, a large rock at the head of the falls came down changing that quite a bit as the falls continue upstream. There use to be a great 6 ft deep swimming hole there and last I saw it was maybe a foot deep. Unfortunately it also looked like they closed it to public access from the upper lot which is the easiest approach and I have not seen it this year yet. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/26 "2021-05-22T00:32:18Z")
The [Kerguelen Arch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerguelen_Arch) collapsed a little over a century ago. I became fascinated by the Kerguelen archipelago when I was in high school, since it is the closest point of land to the exact opposite side of the world from where I lived. I read the book by Kauffmann referenced in the Wikipedia article. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/27 "2021-05-22T00:43:01Z")
> **[Vandals topple Oregon's iconic rock formation Duckbill | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/06/us/oregon-rock-formation-duckbill-toppled-trnd)** > > A group of people crossed into the roped-off area and pushed and shoved the rock until it toppled over. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/28 "2021-05-22T01:14:27Z")
This former arch is pretty small as they go, but has some interesting features. As well this whole website might be of extra interest to some posters here: > **[Arch Collapse in Arches National Park (Rainbow Arch) | NABS Blog](https://www.naturalarches.org/blog/arch-collapse-in-arches-national-park-rainbow-arch/)** ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/29 "2021-05-22T07:12:16Z")
Wall Arch in Arches NP collapsed in 2008: > **[Fallen Arches (U.S. National Park Service)](https://www.nps.gov/articles/arch-fallen-arches.htm)** > > The story of Wall Arch's collapse. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/30 "2021-05-22T07:22:39Z")
Cripes. Are there any new arches, or a we living in the arch apocalypse? ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/31 "2021-05-22T08:44:53Z")
I remember this one because of the notable fact that tourists were on part of the arch which did not collapse. I think I’ve seen this one before it collapsed. [London Arch - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Arch#:~:text=The%20arch%20is%20a%20significant,near%20Port%20Campbell%20in%20Victoria.&text=The%20span%20closer%20to%20the,being%20rescued%20by%20police%20helicopter). The span closer to the shoreline collapsed unexpectedly on 15 January 1990, leaving two tourists (Kelli Harrison and David Darrington) stranded on the outer span before being rescued by police helicopter. ---
**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 22, 2021, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/32 "2021-05-22T13:02:54Z")
Last Sunday’s Ziggy, of all comic strips, was actually relevant to this topic: > **[Ziggy by Tom Wilson & Tom II for May 16, 2021 | GoComics.com](https://www.gocomics.com/ziggy/2021/05/16)** > > May 16, 2021 ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/33 "2021-05-22T15:48:46Z")
In 1988, Namibia’s [Mukurob](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukurob) collapsed. It was one of several rock formations in the world called “Finger of God.” ---
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/34 "2021-05-22T16:49:40Z")
Natural bridge in Montana that collapsed in 1988, now it’s just a trick waterfall. Picture of a before picture in the gallery [here](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g45083-d7094805-Reviews-Natural_Bridge_Falls_Picnic_Area-Big_Timber_Montana.html). ---
**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 22, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/35 "2021-05-22T17:00:07Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Cripes. Are there any new arches, or a we living in the arch apocalypse? No, just a lot of arch enemies… ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/36 "2021-05-22T18:48:39Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > 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. ☹ This pic of us was taken a couple of months before the storm collapsed it. . [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/Vs3NNwD.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/x8IwAx4) ---
**Author:** ![bryanmaguire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bryanmaguire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryanmaguire)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/37 "2021-05-22T19:03:25Z")
The Hilary Step at the top of mount Everest is apparently not what it once was. [https://phys.org/news/2018-05-everest-hillary-slope-climbers.html](https://phys.org/news/2018-05-everest-hillary-slope-climbers.html) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/38 "2021-05-22T22:19:39Z")
When I visited Arches NP, I got a great shot of Delicate Arch, by lying under it and looking up at its underside. But alas, I couldn’t get a similar shot of Landscape Arch, as the area directly under the arch is not open to visitors. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/39 "2021-05-22T23:27:55Z")
One of the turrets of Miner’s Castle collapsed in 2006: > **[Miners Castle Turret Collapses - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (U.S....](https://www.nps.gov/piro/learn/news/minerscastlecollapse.htm)** Grand Portal is still there, but you can no longer boat under it: [http://www.fishweb.com/maps/alger/pictured\_rocks/grand\_portal\_point/index.html](http://www.fishweb.com/maps/alger/pictured_rocks/grand_portal_point/index.html) Brian ---
**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 22, 2021, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620/40 "2021-05-22T23:55:50Z")
It’s over a hundred years ago, but still notable. In the Flume Gorge in Franconia Notch in New Hampshire, there used to be a huge boulder suspended between the two walls of the gorge. It was too big to fit between them, and so it stayed there, apparently suspended for all time > [@](#): > > The Flume was discovered in 1808 by 93-year-old “Aunt” Jess Guernsey when she accidently came upon it while fishing. She had trouble convincing her family of the marvelous discovery, but eventually persuaded others to come and see for themselves. At that time, a huge egg-shaped boulder hung suspended between the walls. The rock was 10 feet (3m) high and 12 feet (3.6m) long. A heavy rainstorm in June of 1883 started a landslide that swept the boulder from its place. **It has never been found.** The same storm deepened the gorge and formed Avalanche Falls. [https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/flume-gorge](https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/flume-gorge) Emphasis mine. Here’s a picture of it [https://www.nhhistory.org/object/276459/suspended-boulder-at-the-flume-in-franconia-notch-nh](https://www.nhhistory.org/object/276459/suspended-boulder-at-the-flume-in-franconia-notch-nh) Here are some more pictures of the boulder, about halfway down > **[Franconia Notch, White Mountains New Hampshire](https://www.images-of-new-hampshire-history.com/Franconia-Notch.php)** > > Photos of Franconia Notch, White Mountains New Hampshire I suppose that the boulder must have been smashed into smaller pieces, which is why it was never found. But I’m still awed that any sort of flooding down the gorge would have even _reached_ the boulder, let alone have such force that it could sweep that heavy rock out of its perch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-natural-formations-have-fallen-apart-naturally-in-the-last-100-years/942620.md?page=3)