Azure Window

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Azure Window (Dwejra)

Former natural arch

View of the Azure Window in 2009

Country Malta

District Gozo

Location Dwejra, San Lawrenz

- elevation 28 m (92 ft)

- coordinate 360312.8N 141118.1

s E

The Azure Window (Maltese: it-Tieqa erqa), also known as the Dwejra Window (Maltese: it-Tieqa
tad-Dwejra), was a 28-metre-tall (92 ft) limestone natural arch on the island of Gozo in Malta. It was
located in Dwejra Bay, within the limits of San Lawrenz, close to the Inland Sea and the Fungus
Rock, and was one of Malta's major tourist attractions. The arch, together with other natural features
in the area, has appeared in a number of international films and media productions.
The formation, created by the collapse of two sea caves, consisted of a pillar of rock rising from the
sea and joined to the cliff by a horizontal slab. Following decades of natural erosion that caused
parts of the arch to fall into the sea, the slab and pillar collapsed completely in stormy weather on 8
March 2017.
 Contents
[hide]

1History

o 1.1Collapse

2Geology

3Media appearances

4References

History

The Azure Window in 2006

In 2012 after the partial collapse

The Azure Window developed through sea and rain erosion of a cliff face over a period of about 500
years.[1][2] The arch was one of Malta's main tourist landmarks, and it was a popular backdrop in
photographs.[1] It was included in a Special Area of Conservation,[2][3] and in 1998, it was included on
Malta's tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, along with the rest of Dwejra Bay.[2][4]
Between the 1980s and the 2000s, parts of the top slab of the arch collapsed, significantly widening
the arch.[3] A large slab of rock on the outer edge of the cavity collapsed in April 2012, further
increasing the size of the window.[5] Another rock fall occurred in March 2013. A geological and
geotechnical report was prepared four months later, and it determined that the arch was "relatively
stable and will continue to remain so for a number of years", although it warned that rock falls will
continue and it might be hazardous for people to go close to the arch. [2][3]
Further rock falls and fissures were reported in subsequent years.[6] Fishermen avoided going near
the arch with their boats, and warning signs were put up to discourage people from walking on top. [2]
 However, many people still went on the arch on a regular basis,[8] and videos were uploaded
[7]

on YouTube of people cliff diving from the window as rocks were falling down.[9][10]
In December 2016, an emergency order was published prohibiting people from going on the arch,
with trespassers facing a fine of 1500.[11] However, this law was not enforced, and visitors were still
walking on top of the arch days before it collapsed in March 2017. [12]
Collapse

Part of the pillar which fell in 2012

The entire structure, including the pillar, collapsed at around 9:40 am local time (8:40 am UTC) on 8
March 2017 after a period of heavy storms, leaving nothing visible above the water.[13][14]
The collapse was reported in both local and international media.[15][16] Prime Minister Joseph
Muscat and Leader of the Opposition Simon Busuttil both tweeted about the collapse of the Azure
Window,[17][18] and it also became the subject of many Internet memes on Maltese social media.[19]
[20]
The Environment and Resources Authority called the collapse a major loss to Malta's natural
heritage.[13]

Geology
The Azure Window was a natural arch with a height of about 28 m (92 ft) and a span of around 25 m
(82 ft). It was located at the tip of a headland known as Dwejra Point. The arch was composed of two
types of Lower Coralline Limestone, known as Member A and Member B. Member A formed the
arch's pillar and base, while Member B formed the upper layer including most of the unsupported
arch.[3]

Panorama of the Azure Window with its natural surroundings in 2012

The arch was near the Inland Sea, a large circular sinkhole reached by a small arch that developed
along a joint in the rocks. The Fungus Rock, an islet that was formed when the bridge of a natural
arch collapsed leaving a stack, is also found nearby. Another natural arch, the Wied il-
Miela Window, is located about 3.7 km (2.3 mi) northeast of Dwejra.[2][3][21]

Media appearances
The Azure Window features in a number of films, including Clash of the Titans (1981) and The Count
of Monte Cristo (2002).[22] It can also be seen in the television miniseries The Odyssey (1997).[16] It
was used as a filming location for the Dothraki wedding scene in the first season of HBO's TV
series Game of Thrones.[23] The filming of Game of Thrones resulted in controversy when a protected
ecosystem was damaged by a subcontractor.[24] Cliff diver David Colturi is featured in a 2017 Hugo
Boss advert video at the Azure Window and the Wied il-Miela Window.[25]

References
1. ^ Jump up to:a b Martin, Ivan (19 July 2013). "The Azure Window is still safe... for now". Times
of Malta. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016.

2. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f Dwejra A Coastal Nature Park (PDF). Life Project (Report). European
Commission. pp. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2008.

3. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e Geoscience Consulting (July 2013). Geological and geotechnical report
on the Azure Window, Gozo: Rock assessment and recommendations for preservation and
conservation. (PDF) (Report). Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate
Change. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2017.

4. Jump up^ "Qawra/Dwejra". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016.

5. Jump up^ "Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses". Times of Malta. 17 April 2012. Archived
from the original on 10 June 2016.

6. Jump up^ "A huge part of the Dwejra Window rock collapsed". TVM. 26 June 2016. Archived
from the original on 29 June 2016.

7. Jump up^ "Dwejra Azure Window fissure grows, collapse may be close". The Malta
Independent. 6 December 2015. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016.

8. Jump up^ "Iconic Azure Window in Dwejra loses another chunk (but people are still walking
on it)". The Malta Independent. 29 August 2016. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016.

9. Jump up^ Mizzi, Daniel (27 November 2016). "Rocks fall off picturesque Azure Window after
cliff jumper dive". Malta Today. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016.

10. Jump up^ "Watch: Rocks fall as man jumps off the Azure Window". Times of Malta. 27
November 2016. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016.

11. Jump up^ "1,500 fine if you step on Azure Window from now on". Times of Malta. 3
December 2016. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016.

12. Jump up^ "Dozens trespass across Azure Window without a care in the world". Times of
Malta. 4 March 2017. Archived from the original on 4 March 2017.

13. ^ Jump up to:a b "Dwejra Window collapses; geologist says pillar gave way". The Malta
Independent. 8 March 2017. Archived from the original on 8 March 2017.

14. Jump up^ Schicluna, Chr