The Geological Survey of India (GSI) recently declaredBrahmani Natural Archin Hemgir forest range of Sundargarh district as a National Geo Heritage site believed to be belonging to the Jurassic period.
After the bill is passed in Parliament, it will be one of the biggest Natural Arches of the country to have the geo heritage tag.
The arch is on top of Chengapahad in Chengapahad reserve forest on the way to Kanika from Hemgir, nearBrahmanivillage and 2.5 km from Kamalgra village. It is present within ferruginous sandstone of Upper Kamthi Formation, which is supposed to have taken place in lower to middle Jurassic age. The development of Arch morphology probably took place after 66 million years.
According to geologists, the oval-shaped arch is 30 metres long at the base and 12 metres in height. The alcove is 7 metres high and 15 metres wide.