Tonto Natural Bridge
The Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is a state park in Arizona with a natural rock bridge. The arch spans a height of 56 meters, a width of 45 meters and is 122 meters deep. The furnished for 1991 State Park related site covers 65 acres, and is situated at an average altitude of 1371 m.
The rock formation with the arch of the bridge was discovered in 1877 by the Scottish prospector David Gowan when he was on the run from Apache Indians and hid for three days in one of the many caves under the rock arch. In 1898 he persuaded his nephew, the whole family emigrate from Scotland to settle in the adjoining valley. In 1948 she left their huts, which were also included with the National Register of Historic Places.
The Tonto Natural Bridge State Park is located 21 km north of Payson Arizona State Route 87 in Gila County of the U.S. state of Arizona. Den State Park pass through several trails, the Bridge Trail that leads to the rock opening, the short Waterfall Trail into the canyon to a cave with dripping water, hanging plants and travertine formations and the River Trail along the Pine Creek with lookouts on the bridge opening, together with stalactites. In the year 2007 94.000 visitors were counted.
Oak forests of Arizona Oaks, viol corpses, Quercus turbinella, Quercus undulata, Quercus chrysolepis, and Quercus emoryi dominate the state park, but also alligator juniper and Utah juniper and stone - pine, gray alder, Celtis reticulata, Garrya wrightii and Garrya flavescens occur as well as Rhus trilobata Rhus ovata and. Furthermore macrorhiza Opuntia, Agave parryi, and Nolina microcarpa be found there.
Five bat species Myotis velifer, Myotis californicus, Myotis lucifugus, Myotis yumanensis, and Euperma maculatum inhabit the park. Other mammals include pumas, lynxes, American Black Bear, coyote, gray fox, deer and cottontail rabbits. To avifauna include turkey vultures, various birds of prey such as hawks, eagles and osprey and owls. But the way cuckoo, eight different species of woodpeckers and each 4 different wrens and Vireos True can be observed in the field.