Sundargarh arch

• The Odisha state unit of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has proposed to declare the ‘Natural Arch’ in the Kanika range of Sundargarh forest division, a Geo Heritage Site.
  • If it is done, it will be the biggest natural arch of the country to have the Geo Heritage tag.
• The Sundargarh natural arch, present in the ferruginous sandstone of the Upper Kamthi formation, dates back to about 184 to 160 million years in the lower to middle Jurassic age.
• It is an oval-shaped arch and has a length of 30 metres at the base and is 12 metres high.
  • The alcove of the natural arch has a maximum height and width of 7 metres and 15 metres, respectively.
• Formation of the natural arch could be due to fault activities and the nature of lithotype, which have enhanced the process of sub-aerial weathering over a long period.
• Apart from the arch at Sundargarh, India has two others– one at Tirumala hills in Tirupati and another at Andaman and Nicobar.
  • However, both of them are smaller compared to the one in Sundargarh.

ABOUT GEO HERITAGE SITES (GHSS)

• These are sites of rare and unique geological, geo-morphological, mineralogical, petrological, and paleontological significance, including caves and natural rock sculptures of national and international interest.
• GSI declares geo-heritage sites/ national geological monuments for protection and maintenance.

ABOUT GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

• Founded in 1851, it is one of the oldest of scientific agencies in the world and the second oldest survey in India after Survey of India (founded in 1767).
• GSI, headquartered at Kolkata, has six Regional offices located at Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Shillong and Kolkata.
• Presently, Geological Survey of India is an attached office to the Ministry of Mines.