Porte d'Amont, Rock arch in Étretat, France.
Porte d'Amont is a natural limestone arch on the coast of Étretat that rises 80 meters above sea level. The formation creates a gateway to the English Channel and is defined by steep, white-colored rock walls.
These rocks formed during the Upper Cretaceous period when the area lay beneath a warm shallow sea that deposited layers of sediment over millions of years. The current arch shape developed through geological processes working over an immense span of time.
The white chalk cliffs of Porte d'Amont have drawn artists for generations, especially because of how light constantly changes across the rock face. This interplay of light and stone has become central to how people here understand and value their natural surroundings.
The best way to see this arch is from the Étretat beach promenade, where easy walking paths lead to several viewing points. The experience is best during low tide, when more beach is exposed and you can see the formation from different angles.
Recent scientific findings show that underground river systems and cave galleries helped shape the arch, not just wave erosion as previously believed. These hidden geological processes reveal that how this famous formation came to be is more complex than once thought.
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