Malta's world renowned Azure Window has collapsed into the sea

[mnhtnbb]

as a result of heavy storms.

There has been concern this could happen.

The limestone arch near Dwejra Bay on Gozo, an island in the Maltese archipelago, is one of the most recognisable locations in Europe, having featured in the HBO television series Games of Thrones and been notorious as a cliff-jumping location.

Images taken from the coast today show not only that the arch has given way, but also the stacks either side of it.

In 2013, a geological study found that while erosion was inevitable, there was no imminent danger of the structure collapsing.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/malta/gozo/articles/maltas-famous-gozo-azure-window-arch-collapses-into-sea/

[mnhtnbb]

1. What? No comments? This is the effect of climate change and more ferocious storms

Take a look at one of the entries in our WINTER photo contest for the size of waves off Cassis, France, in winter.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028763655

[Retrograde]

2. It's what the ocean does

and has been doing for eons. There is an area in northern California off Santa Cruz known as the Natural Bridges (note the plural): there's now only one of them left standing since the combined forces of the ocean and gravity caused the other two to collapse in the 20th century.

Yes, the global climate is changing, but Earth is a dynamic planet: has been for billions of years, and will continue to be so long after humans are gone.

[Mendocino]

3. It was posted in LBN

yesterday and there were comments.

While climate change is a factor, this is erosion. It was formed by geology and is altered by it. Take away the high seas, in time the Azure Window would still collapse. The famous Arches of Utah are still today being formed anew as others are being slowly eroded.

[mnhtnbb]

5. I missed it. Here's the link.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141723544

[suffragette]

4. This makes me think of the Bridge of the Gods crossing the Columbia River

It's a manmade structure now, but for a time it was natural rock. A massive landslide dammed the river for a time, then eroded to become a bridge across the river. It collapsed, possible due to the enormous earthquake in the 1700s.

Rock, water and earth movement creating, then changing.

[mulsh]

6. Erosion is inevitable. that's why smart people don't build things at the edge of coastal cliffs. In

northern CA we've got a beautiful arch at Goat Rock Beach in Sonoma County. I've been knocked down and dragged out to sea by sleeper waves twice at that beach. I rarely turn my back to the ocean on beaches. Imagine what kind of erosion normal waves are doing out there.

here's a video of some kayakers going through that arch.

[link:

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