Saturday, May 31, 2008

Bridging the Gap

Agate Bridge at Petrified Forest NP by lawhawk (c) 2008 


This is Agate Bridge, an extremely well preserved log of petrified wood, which spans a gully in Petrified Forest National Park. You'll note that there's a concrete support built underneath the wood. That was build in 1917 to replace a masonry support built in 1906 when park officals thought it best to preserve the structure with additional assistance.

Today, if such a fascinating find were discovered, the National Park Service would not engage in any such efforts - and let nature take its course:
"Current National Park Service philosophy allows the natural forces that create unusual features to continue. If discovered today, Agate Bridge would be left in its natural state. Eventually the natural forces that created Agate Bridge will cause it to fall with or without its supports. For your safety, and to help preserve the petrified log, please stay off the bridge."
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