Eye of the Needle, Natural arch near Fort Benton, Montana, US
The Eye of the Needle was a natural stone arch formation rising along the Missouri River, consisting of two sandstone pillars connected at the top by a curved span. The structure dominated the surrounding river landscape with its distinctive silhouette.
The formation was documented in 1805 by Meriwether Lewis during the Lewis and Clark Expedition as they navigated the upper Missouri River. Natural forces eventually caused the arch structure to collapse in 1997.
The arch served as a natural landmark for those traveling the Missouri River and exploring this remote corner of Montana. River travelers and locals used it as a reference point when moving through the area.
The site is accessible only by boat, located about 55 river miles east of Fort Benton near the Eagle Creek Campground. Visitors should note that only two sandstone pillars about 20 feet tall remain from the original formation.
The formation is connected to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which documented its existence and provided proof that the structure had survived for millennia. Its destruction through gradual erosion shows how even substantial rock formations eventually give way to time and weather.
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