Wolfberg Arch -- sometimes referred to as Cederberg Arch -- is a rock formation located in the Cederberg Wilderness Area, Western Cape, South Africa. Cederberg Wilderness Area contains rare indigenous flora, diverse wildlife species and rugged rocky terrain. Wolfberg Arch was formed millions of years ago by sandstone and shale formations.
Basic Information
Wolfberg Arch is located within a rocky covered terrain and is the main feature of the landscape that is a famous landmark within West Cape. This natural landmark has inspired many African people for thousands of years. Wolfberg Arch is also a tourist attraction for visitors to West Cape. The arch is surrounded by a landscape that resembles steps and it contains thousands of rocks that protrude from the ground. Wolfberg Arch formation has a length that is between 130 and 160 feet long and the arch is about 40 feet high.
Cederberg Formation
Many of the rock formations that are present within the Cederberg Wilderness Area were formed by glaciers during the ice age. These glaciers resulted in a drop of sea level and carved out the mountains and rugged terrain features of Cederberg. When the glaciers began to melt and withdraw, waves of sandstone were deposited onto its rock formations. Iron and magnesium blended into the geological structure of the area as it was being molded and caused some of the rock formations, such as Wolfberg Arch, to turn red.
Erosion
Natural rock formations typically form arches through a process of erosion, which occurs on a macroscopic or microscopic level, and Wolfberg Arch is no exception. Macroscopic erosion occurs when a rock's joints or fractures are exposed to some catastrophic process that causes it to split into large pieces. Gravity or water pressure can cause the rocks to move away from the positions where they fractured. Microscopic erosion occurs when certain processes dissolve the crystalline cement and destroys the rock matrix. Once this happens, gravity, wind, sand and water have the ability to separate the remaining loose grains from the rock's formation and, in some instances, this causes an arch to form.
Arch Forming Processes
After erosion occurs a natural arch will form through certain processes and they include tectonic movement and uplift, glaciations, incised meander, stream piracy and vertical joint expansion. Glaciers help to form arches by carving out rock formations. Incised meander stretches rock up into a tall thin wall by using a continuous flow of water. When two streams are flowing against opposite sides of a rock formation this is called stream piracy. Joint fractures happen when water fills an opening of a rock and continues to swell until it causes the foundation to collapse. One of these arch forming processes contributed to the development of Cederberg Arch.
Tags: Wolfberg Arch, rock formations, Cederberg Arch, Cederberg Wilderness, Cederberg Wilderness Area, erosion occurs
