A popular climbing area in Yosemite National Park has been closed due to a crack in a granite cliff

A popular rock climbing area in Yosemite National Park has been closed because of a crack that has developed in a massive granite cliff. Climbers recently reported the new crack on the western side of the Royal Arches formation near a climbing route called Super Slide, according to the park’s website. ‘Subsequent investigation revealed that this crack has partially detached a large pillar of rock, and that cracking was actively occurring,’ the website said. An area including several climbing routes was closed Aug. 30. A short section of the Yosemite Valley Loop Trail was also closed, with a detour established. Yosemite experiences many rockfalls caused by natural processes every year, according to the National Park Service . Arcs across the cliff face that gave Royal Arches its name are caused by a type of weathering called exfoliation which causes slabs of granite to fall away. Other famous Yosemite landforms such as Half Dome were also created by the process.