Is it an arch or a natural bridge?

As many of you are aware we talk a lot about arches in this group, but we have never really discussed the difference between a natural arch and a natural bridge.  A little bit of confusion is thrown in because of what Natural Bridge and Sky Bridge are named in the Red River Gorge.  When we are saying there are now 2,500 documented arches in the Arch Database we are including natural bridges in that number. Technically a natural bridge is still an arch.  In most cases an arch is formed by wind and rain or also called weathering.  There are some fracture type arches which are associated with geological movement.  A Natural Bridge is formed by running water.  That water doesn’t necessarily have to be constantly flowing either. The most well known true natural bridge in the state is Rock Bridge in the Red River Gorge which also happens to be the best example. Where some confusion comes in are in the cases of Natural Bridge Arch and Sky Bridge Arch.  Often when folks are joining the group and they answer the participation question “What is your favorite arch?” they will respond with “It’s not an arch but a Natural Bridge.”  Truth is Natural Bridge is an arch. The reason for this anomaly is that Natural and Sky Bridges were both named prior to the modern standard of classification.  Both are shelter type arches.

Below are examples of a natural bridge and an arch.

Rock Bridge:

© Christopher Morris

Natural Arch:

© Bill Fultz

As we kick off Arch Awareness Month, we always highlight arches that have been abused around Kentucky.  This can vary wildly, but generally includes either spray painting on the arch or carving into the rock of the arch.  There are other abuses, such as illegally driving across an arch.  Other arches have had illegal fires or campsites created underneath them.  Another form of arch abuse is the illegal digging for artifacts, known as potholing.

Since we have started Arch Awareness Month back in 2019, we have been highlighting these abuses to bring awareness to the fact that damage is being done, and that you should not do this to these unique features.  

You can check out pictures of the arch abuse in our new section called Arch Abuse.  Click here, or it is on the top left menu under Arch Awareness.

If you would like to check out some additional arch awareness information and to follow along on it all, please visit our Facebook group, Kentucky Waterfalls, Arches and Landscapes.

Apex Arch, which is one, if not the most abused arch in Kentucky.

© Bill Fultz

Something we are adding this year, which was a recommendation to us by Todd Fife, was to document the history of arch hunting in Kentucky. Specifically the arch hunters that have been tromping through the forest and mountains of Kentucky searching for and documenting the natural wonders that they came across.  Several of the forefathers of arch hunting started out in Kentucky, before moving out West and documenting the arches of Utah and beyond.  

One of the first arch hunters was Bob Vreeland.  He has two unpublished volumes on Kentucky arches.  He listed many of the now well known arches of Kentucky, in his first volume.  

Read on about Bob Vreeland here.

Here is the cover of Bob's first volume of 25.

Robert H. Vreeland 1917-2005. SPAN - July 2005 - Robert H. Vreeland (1917-2005). (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2022, from http://www.naturalarches.org/span-0507-article-RobertVreeland.htm

Welcome to Arch Awareness Month.  It is where we highlight the damage done to arches, documenting arches, and just trying to explain how awesome these natural wonders are.  They come in all types, shapes, sizes and uniqueness.  Expect to see a lot a posts and articles added in this month as we have a lot planned for the 2022 edition of arch awareness.  To start the month out, we bring you a new milestone in the database.  The database now stands at 2509 documented arches, with 2600 documented features (including false arches, windows that are less than 3' openings, and destroyed arches).  The map is also updated to 811 features.  We also have updated the lead list, which now stands at 221 possible arches or leads.  

All of the Top 10's have been updated (if required) and can be found here.

If you'd like to submit an arch or a photo of one in the database please click above or right here and submit an arch!

If you would like to check out some additional arch awareness information and to follow along on it all, please visit our Facebook group, Kentucky Waterfalls, Arches and Landscapes.

Lastly, below is the updated map after hitting 2500 arches!  As part of Arch Awareness Month, I have gone back and created maps for each of the past Arch Awareness Months.  They can be found here!  This database was created in 2018 with the first Arch Awareness Month being in January 2019.  It has since shifted to February.