Għar Qawqla is a

limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...

formation located off

Marsalforn Marsalforn (Pronounced: ''Mars al-Forn, , '' Maltese language, Maltese: ''Marsalforn''), also written as M'Forn for shortcut purposes, is a town on the north coast of Gozo, the second largest island of the Malta, Maltese archipelago. The t ...

on the island of

Gozo Gozo ( ), known in classical antiquity, antiquity as Gaulos, is an island in the Malta#The Maltese archipelago, Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Republic of Malta. After the Malta Island, island of Malta ...

in Malta. It was formerly a

natural arch A natural arch, natural bridge, or (less commonly) rock arch is a natural landform where an arch has formed with an opening underneath. Natural arches commonly form where inland cliffs, Cliffed coast, coastal cliffs, Fin (geology), fins or Stack ...

connected to the mainland, but the span collapsed at some point during the 20th century. It has been speculated that the name ''Marsalforn'' might be partially derived from ''forna'', referring to the natural sea caves of the area, of which Għar Qawqla was one of the best-known. The formations stands about off the shore. Today, all that remains of the arch is a pillar, from which both locals and tourists often jump into the sea. A shallow natural pool is located nearby. The area is also a diving site. It is mostly used for training purposes since it has been described as "not inspiring".

References

Żebbuġ, Gozo Limestone formations Natural arches of Malta Underwater diving sites in Malta Coastal erosion in Malta Collapsed arches {{Malta-geo-stub

See also

References