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Aloba Arch

Coordinates: 16°44′29″N 22°14′21″E / 16.7415°N 22.2392°E / 16.7415; 22.2392
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Aloba Arch
View of Aloba Arch
Map showing the location of Aloba Arch
Map showing the location of Aloba Arch
Aloba Arch
Location in Chad
LocationEnnedi Plateau, Chad
Nearest townFada
Coordinates16°44′29″N 22°14′21″E / 16.7415°N 22.2392°E / 16.7415; 22.2392
Length250 ft (76 m)
Width77 ft (23 m)
Elevation394 ft (120 m)

Aloba Arch is a natural arch located in Chad. Large natural arches are somewhat rare outside the southern and western regions of China and the Colorado Plateau of the southwest United States.[1] Chad's Ennedi Plateau, located within the Sahara Desert in the northeast part of the country near Libya and Sudan has a geology similar to the Colorado Plateau and has produced a number of natural arches and similar landforms, although only Aloba can claim to be on the top ten list of longest arches in the world.[1]

Aloba Arch's span is considered to be the 8th longest known natural arch, and the longest outside of China and Utah.[1] Due in part to its location as well as being only recently recognized for its size, estimates based on photography yield an approximate span of 250 ft (76.2 m).[2] Xianren Bridge (Fairy Bridge) in China has a span of 400 ft (121.9 m) which is the longest discovered and measured span to date.[3] Perhaps more striking than the span, however, is the sheer height of the arch. At 394 ft (120.1 m) tall, it towers over the more famous Rainbow Bridge and is one of the tallest known arches in the world.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Brandt-Erichsen, David; Wilbur, Jay (2015-10-01). "A tour of the Big 19: Photos and information on the world's giant natural arches". naturalarches.org. Natural Arch and Bridge Society. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  2. ^ "Aloba Arch". Natural Arch and Bridge Society. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  3. ^ "Fairy Bridge". Natural Arch and Bridge Society. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  4. ^ Wilbur, Jay. "The Dimensions of Rainbow Bridge". Natural Arch and Bridge Society. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
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