Rainbow Bridge National Monument

The Rainbow Bridge [ reɪnbəʊ brɪdʒ ] ( German Rainbow Bridge ) is located in a side canyon of Lake Powell in Utah, about 13 km north of the Arizona border. It is the largest natural bridge in the world with a wingspan of 82 m and a height of 88 m. Her bow is at its highest point 10 m wide and 12 m thick. The Rainbow Bridge was declared in 1910 by President William Taft National Monument. It is managed by the National Park Service.

The arch is in the upper part of the Navajo sandstone and at the foot of Kayenta sandstone. He was born when the water of a river course broke through the thin wall to the other side of a meander and over time formed the huge opening.

The Rainbow Bridge is a sanctuary of the Navajo Indians, who they Nonnezoshi: call (Navajo " petrified rainbow "). According to legend, some Navajo saved them from a deluge by the bridge, which is the only opening between the former ancient world and the world of today. Therefore, the NPS since 1995, asks to stay on the path and look at the bridge only from a vantage area, rather than to approach the Rainbow Bridge, or go through.

The Rainbow Bridge is not accessible by roads. Visitors usually come by boat to a jetty and walk on foot (depending on the water level about 2 km). Full-day excursions with tour boats (about 80 river miles ) are available from ports near Page, Arizona. With the approval of the Navajo Nation can reach the bridge on each of two different multi-day hiking trails through challenging terrain in desert climate.