Ancient Geological Structure Falls After Millions of Years
The iconic Double Arch, a renowned geological formation in Utah’s Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, collapsed unexpectedly on Wednesday, according to the US National Park Service. The natural structure, also known as the Toilet Bowl or the Hole in the Roof, had stood for approximately 190 million years. Its sudden fall has alarmed local tribes, with some interpreting the event as a “bad omen.”
Erosion and changing water levels blamed
The Double Arch, formed from Navajo sandstone during the late Triassic to early Jurassic periods, attracted thousands of tourists annually. The National Parks Service suggests that fluctuating water levels and wave erosion from Lake Powell likely contributed to the collapse. Michelle Kerns, the superintendent of the recreation area, noted in a statement that “These features have a life span that can be influenced or damaged by manmade interventions.”
Collapse coincides with pyramid buckling in Mexico
The fall of Double Arch occurred just nine days after an ancient pyramid at the Ihuatzio Archaeological Zone in Michoacán, Mexico, buckled under heavy rainfall. While experts believe increased water levels may have caused the collapse in Utah, drought conditions are suspected to have weakened the pyramid in Mexico. However, members of the Purépecha tribe in Mexico have raised concerns that supernatural forces may be involved.
Tariakuiri Alvarez, a member of the Purépecha tribe, expressed deep concern over the collapse, telling The US Sun, “For our ancestors, the builders, this was a bad omen that indicated the proximity of an important event. The Purépecha defeated the Aztecs and ruled for 400 years before the Spanish invasion in 1519.”
“Before the arrival of the conquistadors, something similar happened, which for the Purépecha worldview of that time was because the gods Nana Kuerhaepiri and K’eri Kurikweri were displeased,” Alvarez added.
As the tribes grapple with the implications of the Double Arch’s collapse, questions linger over whether natural causes or something more profound are at play.