Natural Arch in Odisha’s Sundargarh declared Geo Heritage Site by GSI

In a pride moment for Odisha, the ‘Natural Arch’ near Hemgir in Sundargarh has been declared as Geo Heritage Site by the Geological Survey of India (GSI).’

As per official sources, the formation of the natural arch might be ignited by the fault system and associated joints while the porosity of the poorly sorted, immature, arkosic and loose sandstone accelerates the process through subaerial weathering and erosion.

The natural arch was earlier recorded in forest records inside Chhengapahar reserve forest under Hemgir Range. However, it was discovered and documented scientifically by the GSI only recently.

DFO Bonai, Lalit Patra, who has also been given additional charge of Sundargarh Division, said the natural arch has a maximum length of 30 m at the base and maximum height of 12 m. The natural arch was found in dense Chhengapahar reserve forest near Brahmani village during exploration for coal in Kendudihi Block, Ib River Coalfield.

According to Patra, steps are already being taken for the protection of the natural arch and creating awareness among people and development of the site.

Highlights

The entire hill along with the rock shelter of the natural arch is a store house of different kind of primary sedimentary structures. Both planar and trough cross stratifications of different amplitudes are present in multiple sets.

Gritty sandstone layers are present at the top of the cross stratifications.