{{Short description|Natural arch in Mexico}} {{Refimprove|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox protected area | name = Arch of Cabo San Lucas | iucn_category = | iucn_ref = | image = File:Cabo San Lucas Los Arcos 3.jpg | image_caption = | map = Mexico Baja California Sur | map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|22.8760|N|109.8947|W}} | label = The Arch of Cabo San Lucas | relief = | location = [[Cabo San Lucas]], Mexico | nearest_city = [[Cabo San Lucas]] | nearest_town = | coords_ref = | length = | length_km = | width = | width_km = | area_ref = | elevation = {{cvt|200|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 = }} The '''arch of Cabo San Lucas''' is a distinctive [[granite|granitic]] rock formation at the southern tip of [[Cabo San Lucas]], which is itself the extreme southern end of [[Mexico]]'s [[Baja California Peninsula]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/head-to-la-paz-rather-than-overdeveloped-los-cabos-for-the-real-baja-california-sur/2019/10/02/f75f6298-dfd8-11e9-be96-6adb81821e90_story.html|title=Head to La Paz rather than overdeveloped Los Cabos for the real Baja California|last=|first=|date=|newspaper=The Washington Post|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004024702/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/head-to-la-paz-rather-than-overdeveloped-los-cabos-for-the-real-baja-california-sur/2019/10/02/f75f6298-dfd8-11e9-be96-6adb81821e90_story.html |archive-date=2019-10-04 |access-date=}}</ref> The arch is locally known as "El Arco," which means "the arch" in Spanish, or "Land's End."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-arch-of-cabo-san-lucas|title=The Arch of Cabo San Lucas|website=Atlas Obscura|language=en|access-date=2020-01-08}}</ref> It is here that the [[Pacific Ocean]] becomes the [[Gulf of California]].
This area is widely used in hotel [[advertising]] in the [[Los Cabos Corridor]]. This spot is a popular gathering area for sea lions and is frequented by tourists.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g152515-d152880-Reviews-El_Arco_de_Cabo_San_Lucas-Cabo_San_Lucas_Los_Cabos_Baja_California.html|title=El Arco de Cabo San Lucas - 2020 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)|website=TripAdvisor|language=en|access-date=2020-01-08}}</ref> The Arch of Cabo San Lucas is adjacent to Lovers Beach on the Sea of Cortez side and Divorce Beach on the rougher Pacific Ocean side.<ref name=":0" /> ==Access== The Arch is accessible by land or boat from the beach of the last hotel on the Pacific. Access to the arch requires climbing large rocks.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/cabo-san-lucas/things-to-do/el-arco|title=El Arco|last=|first=|date=|website=Travel + Leisure|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412231144/http://www.travelandleisure.com:80/travel-guide/cabo-san-lucas/things-to-do/el-arco |archive-date=2017-04-12 |access-date=2020-01-08}}</ref> Entering the arch in a small watercraft can be somewhat dangerous when the sea is running. The water level can significantly go up and down. Being close to the sides of the arch is not recommended.
==Geology== Basement rock in Los Cabos formed through [[Igneous rock#Intrusive|intrusive igneous]] processes c. 115 million years ago, during the [[Cretaceous]] period.<ref name="fletcher2000">{{cite journal |last1=Fletcher |first1=John |last2=Kohn |first2=Barry |last3=Foster |first3=David |last4=Gleadow |first4=Andrew |title=Heterogeneous Neogene cooling and exhumation of the Los Cabos block, southern Baja California: Evidence from fission-track thermochronology |journal=Geology |date=2000 |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=107–110 |doi=10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<107:HNCAEO>2.0.CO;2 |bibcode=2000Geo....28..107F }}</ref> The arch is three stories tall and was formed from natural [[erosion]].
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Coord|22.875147|-109.894171|display=title|region:MX-BCS_type:landmark}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:El Arco De Cabo San Lucas}} [[Category:Natural arches]] [[Category:Rock formations of Mexico]] [[Category:Landforms of Baja California Sur]] [[Category:Cabo San Lucas]] [[Category:Landmarks in Mexico]] {{BajaCaliforniaSur-geo-stub}}