WCS staff found the arch during a wildlife survey of the Bamyan Plateau in central Afghanistan. (Credit: Ayub Alavi)
Posted on 03/31/2011 7:46:39 AM PDT by Red Badger
Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society have stumbled upon a geological colossus in a remote corner of Afghanistan: a natural stone arch spanning more than 200 feet across its base.
Located at the central highlands of Afghanistan, the recently discovered Hazarchishma Natural Bridge is more than 3,000 meters (nearly 10,000 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest large natural bridges in the world. It also ranks among the largest such structures known.
"It's one of the most spectacular discoveries ever made in this region," said Joe Walston, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Asia Program. "The arch is emblematic of the natural marvels that still await discovery in Afghanistan."
Wildlife Conservation Society staff Christopher Shank and Ayub Alavi discovered the massive arch in late 2010 in the course of surveying the northern edge of the Bamyan plateau for wildlife (the landscape is home to ibex and urial wild sheep) and visiting local communities
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
WCS staff found the arch during a wildlife survey of the Bamyan Plateau in central Afghanistan. (Credit: Ayub Alavi)
It’s amazing that we have billions of people on earth, yet still have not discovered everything on it’s surface.
Quick. Using the nobama WTF foreign policy doctrine give the al queda some missiles to bomb the crap out of it. Quick.
I’m surprised the Taliban didn’t have it destroyed.
Beautiful piece of nature!!!
What ‘group’ and issue would the left support more:
1)Multiculturalism: The Taliban deciding to destroy it because they find it offensive to Allah.
2)Saving the environment: Environmentalist pitching a hissy fit.
Oh, I’m sure the locals knew it was there all along.................
I’m sure it was known...but just not reported to the broader world.
ping
Why destroy a perfectly good edifice from which to toss non believers?
They probably hid weapons in it...............
I'm sure the local people have been aware of it for centuries.
Landscape Arch Utah 290 feet span and no Taliban.
Look at the size of that guy in the pic.
It is truly huge..............
But they do have Mormons.................
Just another hole in the mountains.
Ping
I would be willing to bet that it was actually the Afghans who discovered this arch a long, long time ago.
I can’t wait to travel there in my burhka to see it in person.
The taliban hasn’t blown it up yet???? They must be slipping.
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