Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge
a natural limestone bridge in western Virginia. 215 ft. (66 m) high; 90 ft. (27 m) span.

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or natural arch

Naturally created arch formation resembling a bridge.

Most are erosion features that occur in sandstone or limestone. Some are formed by the collapse of part of a cavern roof. Others may be produced by entrenched rivers eroding through meander necks to form cutoffs. Still others are produced by exfoliation (separation of successive thin shells) and may be enlarged by wind erosion.

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▪ geological formation, Virginia, United States
 natural limestone arch, Rockbridge county, western Virginia, U.S., 20 miles (32 km) south of Lexington near the village of Natural Bridge and the northern portion of Jefferson National Forest. The arch, spanning a gorge cut by Cedar Creek, is 215 feet (66 metres) high, 90 feet (27 metres) long, and varies in width from 50 to 150 feet (15 to 45 metres). Highway U.S. 11 passes over it. Initially a sacred site for the Monacan Indians, the bridge was later included in a tract of land purchased in 1774 by Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson, Thomas), then a member of the House of Burgesses (Burgesses, House of), for 20 shillings. Jefferson built a two-room log cabin near the bridge, reserving one room for guests.

      The bridge and caverns are popular tourist attractions. The floodlit musical “Drama of Creation” is presented year-round in a woodland setting beneath the formation. Natural Bridge Caverns, 347 feet (106 metres) below the earth's surface, contain spectacular cave formations and a mirror lake.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • natural bridge — noun : a usually arch formation created by nature and resembling a bridge * * * a natural limestone bridge in western Virginia. 215 ft. (66 m) high; 90 ft. (27 m) span. * * * natural bridge, a rock formation shaped like a bridge, especially one… …   Useful english dictionary

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