How Do Stone Arches Form in the Desert?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How do stone arches form in the desert?

The Big Idea

Stone arches start as cracks in thick walls of rock! Rain seeps in, freezes on cold nights, and widens the cracks. Slowly a hole appears, and if the rock above is strong enough, it stays as an arch.

Cracks Form

Step one: cracks form. Thick walls of sandstone, called fins, have cracks in them. Rainwater seeps into those cracks.

Ice Pries Apart

Step two: ice pries them apart. On a cold night, the water freezes, and ice takes up more room than water. That widens the crack and breaks off small bits of stone.

A Hole Appears

Step three: a hole appears. Wind and rain carry the loose pieces away, and a small opening grows bigger. If the rock above is strong enough, it stays standing as an arch.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! It begins as a thick rock wall with cracks. Rainwater seeps in. Ice widens the cracks on cold nights. And at last, an arch stands where the rock once was. No two arches look the same.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! The oldest arches are always slowly crumbling. Every arch will fall one day. New arches keep forming as wind and ice carve fresh rock. Stay on trails near arches, and never climb on them.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Look at pictures of stone arches with a grown-up. Draw one and mark where rain would soak in. Why would the thin parts break first? Share your answer.

Outro

Water, ice, and wind slowly carve the cracks in rock into arches. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!