{{short description|Natural arch in the Ennedi Plateau, Chad}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Aloba Arch | iucn_category = | iucn_ref = | image = Aloba Arch in the Ennedi Mountains - northeastern Chad 2015.jpg | image_caption = View of Aloba Arch | map = Chad | image_map = | map_width = | map_caption = Location in Chad | coordinates = {{Coord|16.7415|22.2392|format=dms|type:landmark_region:TD|display=inline,title}} | label = Aloba Arch | relief = | location = [[Ennedi Plateau]], [[Chad]] | nearest_city = | nearest_town = [[Fada, Chad|Fada]] | coords_ref = | length = {{cvt|250|ft|m}} | length_km = | width = {{cvt|77|ft|m}} | width_km = | area_ref = | elevation = {{cvt|394|ft|m}} | elevation_avg = | elevation_min = | elevation_max = | dimensions = | designation = | authorized = | designated = | established = | named_for = | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | governing_body = | administrator = | operator = | owner = | website = }} '''Aloba Arch''' is a [[natural arch]] located in [[Chad]]. Large natural arches are somewhat rare outside the southern and western regions of [[China]] and the [[Colorado Plateau]] of the southwest [[United States]].<ref name=NABS>{{cite web|url=http://www.naturalarches.org/big9.htm|title=A tour of the Big 19: Photos and information on the world's giant natural arches|date=2015-10-01|accessdate=2017-03-12|website=naturalarches.org|publisher=Natural Arch and Bridge Society|first=David|last=Brandt-Erichsen|first2=Jay|last2=Wilbur}}</ref> Chad's [[Ennedi Plateau]], located within the [[Sahara Desert]] in the northeast part of the country, has a geology similar to the Colorado Plateau and has produced a number of natural arches and similar landforms, although only Aloba can claim to be on the top ten list of longest arches in the world.<ref name=NABS/>
Aloba Arch's span is considered to be the 8th longest known natural arch, and the longest outside of China and Utah.<ref name=NABS/> Due in part to its location as well as being only recently recognized for its size, estimates based on photography yield an approximate span of {{convert|250|ft|m|sigfig=3|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naturalarches.org/big10-5.htm|title=Aloba Arch|accessdate=2017-03-12|publisher=Natural Arch and Bridge Society}}</ref> [[Xianren Bridge]] (Fairy Bridge) in China has a span of {{convert|400|ft|m|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} which is the longest discovered and measured span to date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naturalarches.org/big-FairyBridge.htm|title=Fairy Bridge|accessdate=2017-03-12|publisher=Natural Arch and Bridge Society}}</ref> Perhaps more notable than the span, however, is the height of the arch. At {{convert|394|ft|m|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} tall, it towers over the more famous [[Rainbow Bridge National Monument|Rainbow Bridge]] and is one of the tallest known arches in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naturalarches.org/archinfo/rainbow.htm|title=The Dimensions of Rainbow Bridge|accessdate=2008-05-19|last=Wilbur|first=Jay|publisher=Natural Arch and Bridge Society}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.naturalarches.org/big10-5.htm Aloba Arch]
{{10Arches}}
[[Category:Natural arches]] [[Category:Landforms of Chad]] [[Category:Rock formations of Africa]]