Honeycomb Natural Bridge Earthcache EarthCache
Honeycomb Natural Bridge Earthcache
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BEST KEPT SECRET IN MARSHALL COUNTY As you round a curve on
Cottonville Road ( Natural Bridge Lane ), about a mile and a half
off Hwy. 431, you are looking at probably the best kept secret in
Marshall County . This absolutely beautiful " Natural Bridge "
seems to be hidden in plain sight.
For many years, this
area was just a large deep hole in the ground, and local people
would dump their old junk cars, trash, and appliances. Someone
finally saw the potential beauty in this magnificent hole, and in
1997, Jim and Carol Meekins acquired 15 acres that included this
hole. They have since added approx. 40 more acres to preserve the
area around the bridge. They built their beautiful dream home with
their front lawn being the rock bridge formed by nature. The
Meekins have planted and cultivated gardens that protect and
enhance the natural beauty. Walkways and observation points give
spectacular views from every angle of their property. The water on
the property comes from 3 waterfalls (which are all drinkable), is
used for their personal use and irrigation of the gardens The
Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented the
Meekins with a conservation award. The were also nominated for and
won a state DAR award. The state committee submitted Meekins for
national recognition. In 2007 Meekins was presented with a plaque
from the national society of the Daughters of the American
Revolution. Although locals tell the story that this property was
once owned by the State of Alabama and sold.... it is myth only.
The state has never owned this property. A movement should be
started to get the state to buy this property and protect it for
all the future to see. How sad it would be if someone purchased
this property from the Meekins' and fenced the view and started
charging. The choice of "bridge" vs. "arch" is somewhat arbitrary.
The Natural Arch and Bridge Society identify a bridge as a subtype
of arch that is primarily water-formed. By contrast, the Dictionary
of Geological Terms defines a natural bridge as a "natural arch
that spans a valley of erosion." In this case a stream of rushing
water flowed down the steep rock face for thousands of years. The
erosion wore a hole in the rock ledge and continued downward
forming the great hole in the ground; then exited underground. The
amazing result of all this erosion is the beautiful arching span
known as "A Natural Bridge".
A natural arch or natural bridge is a natural geological formation
where a rock arch forms, with an opening underneath. Most natural
arches form as a narrow ridge, walled by cliffs, become narrower
from erosion, with a softer rock stratum under the cliff-forming
stratum gradually eroding out until the rock shelters thus formed
meet underneath the ridge, thus forming the arch. Natural arches
commonly form where cliffs are subject to erosion from the sea,
rivers or weathering (subaerial processes); the processes "find"
weaknesses in rocks and work on them, making them bigger until they
break through. The choice between bridge and arch is somewhat
arbitrary. The Natural Arch and Bridge Society identifies a bridge
as a subtype of arch that is primarily water-formed.[1] By
contrast, the Dictionary of Geological Terms defines a natural
bridge as a "natural arch that spans a valley of erosion."
Weather-eroded arches A diagram showing the sequence of arch
formation. 1.. Deep cracks penetrate into a sandstone layer. 2..
Erosion wears away exposed rock layers and enlarges the surface
cracks, isolating narrow sandstone walls, or fins. 3.. Alternating
frosts and thawing cause crumbling and flaking of the porous
sandstone and eventually cut through some of the fins. 4.. The
resulting holes become enlarged to arch proportions by rockfalls
and weathering. Arches eventually collapse, leaving only buttresses
that in time will erode. a.. Many of these arches are found within
Arches National Park and Rainbow Bridge National Monument in Utah.
Water-eroded arches A topographic map of Coyote Natural Bridge in
Utah shows how the meandering Coyote Gulch carved a shorter route
through the rock under the arch. The old riverbed is now higher
than the present water level. Some natural bridges may look like
arches, but they form in the path of streams that wear away and
penetrate the rock. Pothole arches form by chemical weathering as
water collects in natural depressions and eventually cuts through
to the layer below. Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah is
another area to view several natural bridges. Cave erosion Natural
bridges can form from natural limestone caves, where paired
sinkholes collapse and a ridge of stone is left standing in
between, with the cave passageway connecting from sinkhole to
sinkhole. Like all rock formations, natural bridges are subject to
continued erosion, and will eventually collapse and disappear. One
example of this was the double-arched Victorian coastal rock
formation, London Bridge, which lost an arch after storms increased
erosion. Arches as highways In a few places in the world, natural
arches are truly natural bridges because there are roads running
across them. Two such arches are found in Kentucky. One, a cave
erosion arch made of limestone, is located in Carter Caves State
Park, and it has a paved road on top. Another, a weather-eroded
sandstone arch with a dirt road on top, is located on the edge of
Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Kentucky. It is called White's
Branch Arch (also known as the Narrows), and the road going over it
is usually referred to as the Narrows Road.
As you stand in awe of
this impressive monument to the forces of nature in action, enjoy
the view and please observe several courtesies: • Stay out of
fenced areas underneath, above and around the arch, as well as the
home of Jim and Carol. • Do not climb on top of the arch.
• Do not disturb rock shelters, plants, and landscaping •
Do not disturb the soil, dig, or move rocks. • • Mr.
Meekins is a member of the Natural Arch and Bridge Society and
welcomes visitors. It would be a courtesy to Jim and Carol to make
your presence known.
Jim Meekins is a member of The Natural Arch and Bridge Society .
This Natural Bridge is listed as Honeycomb Natural Bridge, Marshall
County, Alabama NABSQNO 16S-561636-3813282.
To log your find, Take a picture of you with your GPS in hand with
the bridge in the background. Post the picture with your log and
E-Mail me the answers to the following questions.
1. The arch is made from what type of stone? (________)
2. What do you estimate the span of the bridge to be? (____)
3. How high do you estimate this arch to be? (________)
4. What do you think the 3 most common questions are ask of the
Meekins? (____________)
5. How is water supplied to the property? (_______)
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