Whether you worked hard today or can’t seem to find work, let’s take a break from the stress. It’s cold and ugly outside in some places, so think about sea arches like a mysterious portal to another world of sunshine and warm tropical water. If you love beaches or cliffs, you should be awed by these natural rock formations while enjoying your virtual travel to the sea. Hey, it’s a free trip, let’s find the right mood. Forget about the ups and downs of life. You can feel the warm wind blowing a salty ocean spray on your skin as well as feel the warm sand under your feet. You can hear the roar swish of waves crashing. Exhale out the negative energy, as the tension slowly seeps out of your body, and you get ready to take off for your journey to see 32 stunning and spectacular sea arches.
Let’s Go Play
(image credits: Cyril BRETON, Stefan Mendelsohn, thefatcat44)
Let’s go play. You will travel first to France. Étretat is best known for its cliffs, including a famous natural arch pictured on the top left. To the left of that arch, erosion collapsed another arch which is now only a sea stack. Next, you’ll hop virtually to Spain to take in another lovely hole in a rock. The top right sea arch is at Cala Santanyí, Majorca, Balearic Islands. Are you ready to get in the ocean? From there, you’ll travel to Dorset, England, to take in a twilight stroll on the water’s edge near the famous Dorsel Door.
France, Italy, Mexico
(image credits: Erroba, nespyxel, Wonderlane)
Because the view is so awe inspiring, you’ll go back to Étretat, Normandy for a picnic on the cliff. Gaze where the waves have sliced through the cliff for the opposite view of that grand natural arch. From there, you’ll fly to Ponza, Italy, where you can get in a boat like the one that can be seen sailing through the window in the rocks. In the bottom image, you see waves and a very low arch near Mazatlan, Mexico. The undertow is strong and the rocks are sharp so be careful but have fun.
Hawaii, Spain, Greece
(image credits: j o s h, siskud, episa)
For more warm tropical water, let’s head to Hawaii and Volcanoes National Park where many sea caves or lava tubes have collapsed, leaving majestic sea arches behind. These natural arches will continue to erode, lasting but a short span of time and perhaps centuries only. Many sea caves erode down to sea arches such as in the top right, near Costa Blanca, Spain, where the waves are crashing against the caves to form more sea arches. On the bottom, you can dive into the gorgeous turquoise waters surrounding Arch Rock, along the northern coast of Crete Island, Greece.
Corona del Mar CA and Island of Gozo, Malta
(image credits: UCI Sociology Department, Vin60)
It’s time for you to have some fun in the water and out. First, at Corona del Mar, California, you can see this marvelous sea arch at low tide and with breaking waves. It is a four mile round trip hike to Crystal Cove. Snorkeling is good beneath the cliffs of Corona beach. The park features three miles of Pacific coastline, plus open bluffs, wooded canyons, and an offshore underwater park. Then take another virtual hop across the world to land in the Mediterranean. In the bottom image, the natural bridge continues to be cut away by crashing waves off the coast of Sicily. Malto, Gozo offers great snorkeling, bright orange-red sands, and some of the oldest religious structures and temples in the world.
Yesnaby Scotland to Berry Head England
(image credits: windywolf,>> Hal <<)
Now you’re off the Yesnaby, Scotland, an area renowned for its Devonian geology, geos, crumbly rocks, sea stacks, blowholes, boiling seas and towering cliffs. If you feel a bit energized, perhaps you’d like an adventure here? This is a very popular spot for climbers due to Yesnaby Castle, a two legged sea stack. Then you zoom to Berry Head, England, and this natural bridge, or dark sea arch. Berry Head offers plenty of caves and threatened wildlife.
From Kap Dyrholaey to Normandy
(image credits: Kenny Muir, gilgpictures)
Wow, now you are in southern Iceland at Kap Dyrholaey where the energy created by the wind and huge waves as they crash against the sea arch cleanses your mind of the rest of your stress. The vibrant colors of the rainbow flow around you, bringing a smile to your face as you feel alive and happy. Then like a flash, you are back in France to enjoy the peace and privacy on the beach where this sea arch reflects in the still water, doubling your pleasure.
Durdle Door
You blinked, didn’t you? Now you are in Dorset, England, in the late afternoon as a storm blows in next to Durdle Door. The sand and pebbles are warm under your feet, as you take in a deep breath and taste the salty tang of sea air. The ocean spray in the wind cools you as you harness the positive energy of the ocean, the crashing waves, and the approaching storm. You can have all of nature’s awesomeness while you absorb the beauty of this stunning sea arch.
Take it in — London “Bridge” Arch and La Jolla
(image credits: sorgun68, AMagill)
London Arch was once called London Bridge, but erosion caused the natural bridge to collapse, leaving behind this sea arch in Port Campbell National Park, Australia. Here the sun is warming and smiling, kissing your skin. But what you really want is to get out there in the ocean, right? Go ahead, take a deep breath in and dive under the water. Take in the beautiful colored fish before you kick and glide to the surface. Take in a deep breath as you bob up down on the waves, now in La Jolla, California. Go ahead, take in the beauty around you.
Mermaids and Adventurers
(image credits: djgr, cláudia gabriela marques vieira, acampm1)
Calling mermaids and adventurers, welcome to Mermaids Inlet at Currarong, Australia. The natural rock phenomenon is still more of a sea cave in the left image, providing safe passage for only mermaids or daredevils. The water swells, cutting the cave even more until eventually erosion will slice it down to a sea arch. Now virtually hop back to England like in the top right, at Lulworth Cove. The area surrounding that natural arch is called Jurassic Coast because it’s a geological goldmine. Yet in a heartbeat you are in Algarve, Portugal. Here the ocean is as warm and as inviting as the sandy beach. The seagulls cry overhead, calling to the adventurer in you to cut loose and have fun.
Sea Windows
(image credits: vgm8383, Dat The Man, little_frank, Patrick Smith)
Welcome back to Cali, near Pfeiffer Beach and Big Sur. The top and bottom images are the same large arch just a few feet off the beach. These awesome sea windows call to you to kick back in nature and enjoy. Swim, dive, have a picnic, but enjoy the stunning sea arch. If you would rather, you can head out to Sunset Cliff in San Diego, California, at the middle left. Not enough of a virtual jump for you? How about on the middle right, to Dyrhólaey, Iceland? The window looking out at the ocean is huge, but if you plan to swim then you’d better like cold water or have a wetsuit.
Mouth and Heart of the Sea
(image credits: Andrea Cucconi, little_frank)
Then you are off to Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain. The island has much to offer you, but the lava caves are her heart. Lanzarote has many water sports such as scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, windsurfing, fishing and sailing. The lava cave in the top photo will continue to erode until only a sea arch remains. From warm breezy seashores to the chilly climate of west Iceland to see the Mouth of Gatklettur. This is a peculiar yet spectacular area of cliffs and sea arches. The bottom image is the circular arch rock, the open mouth of the chilly sea.
Warm Water for Sea Arch Connoisseurs
(image credits: Len Borden, Retinol)
That last one was cold, right? How about a quick dip in the deep blue water right off Great Ocean Road in Australia? Feel better, relaxed again and no longer shivering? How about a hike now in California? At sunset, connoisseurs of this sea arch come out in droves to soak in the beauty and capture this natural arch with their cameras.
Island Archway, Australia – Hvítserkur, Iceland
(image credits: sachman75, sigfus.sigmundsson)
Australia is a land of awe-inspiring beauty, so you travel there one last time for diving and exploring in the waves. Part of Port Campbell National Park includes the Island Archway and spectacular limestone formations. Just a short trip up Great Ocean Road and you can see The Twelve Apostles which are another awesome type of natural rock phenomenon. You travel one last place, Hvítserkur, Iceland. Hvítserkur is the last remains of a central volcano. Local legend, however, has it that a troll turned into stone when he was surprised by the sun. Sea erosion carved holes through the rock, a bizarre sea arch in the shape of a petrified monster. Although virtual travel, hopefully you enjoyed your free vacation and are now more relaxed and smiling.



