by The Associated Press, December 8, 2016
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Utah (AP) — Bryce Canyon National Park officials say the iconic hoodoo known as "The Sentinel" has ended its watch.
The Deseret News reports (http://bit.ly/2hkaVWj ) that officials say the hoodoo fractured at a point 2 feet in diameter, causing an approximately 15-foot-tall segment to fall. Snow has prevented rangers from locating the resulting debris.
Based on visitor photos, park officials believe it broke Nov. 25.
The hoodoo was named for its shape and became a landmark of the Bryce Canyon landscape. Park ranger Jan Stock said in a statement that the hoodoo looked like a sentry or protector of the peace gazing to the east.
Officials say fractures created by geological activity 70 million years ago now create cracks for water to collect. In freezing temperatures, the expanding water can shatter the rock.
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Information from: Deseret News, http://www.deseretnews.com
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