India’s biggest natural arch formed 184 million years ago discovered in Odisha by GSI

Tags: National National News

A recent survey conducted by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has led to the discovery of India's largest natural arch in the Kenduadihi block of Sundargarh district in Odisha. 

An overview of the news

• The GSI's state unit has proposed to designate the natural arch in the Kanika range of Sundargarh forest division as a Geo Heritage Site, making it the country's largest natural arch with the Geo Heritage tag.

• Currently, India has two other natural arches—one located in the Tirumala hills of Tirupati and the other in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 

• However, both of these arches are smaller in size compared to the one found in Sundargarh.

About Sundargarh Natural Arch

• The Sundargarh natural arch, formed in the ferruginous sandstone dates back approximately 184 to 160 million years during the lower to middle Jurassic age.

• The arch has an oval shape and measures 30 meters in length at the base, with a height of 12 meters. 

• The alcove of the arch has a maximum height of 7 meters and a width of 15 meters.

• These structures indicate a high-energy fluvial environment during the process of sedimentation.