Darwin's Arch, a famed rock formation in the Galapagos, collapses

[peppertree]

Darwin’s Arch, a famous, photo-friendly rock formation in the remote Galápagos Islands, collapsed on Monday because of natural erosion, Ecuadorean officials said.

The collapse of the natural archway in the Pacific Ocean, about 600 miles west of continental Ecuador, left a pile of rubble between two pillars.

The waters around the arch are known as a destination for divers, with tours from the main islands offering the opportunity to spot sharks, turtles, manta rays and dolphins.

The arch was less than a mile from the uninhabited Darwin Island; both are named after Charles Darwin, the scientist whose study of species on the islands in 1835 influenced his theory of evolution and natural selection.

At: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/world/americas/darwins-arch-collapse.html

The end of an era: Darwin's Arch, named after the famed naturalist whose 1835 visit to the Galápagos and South America helped shape his On the Origin of Species, seen before its top collapsed on May 17th.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Darwin's Fallen Arch can be known as "Darwin's Pillars."

In Japan, a pair of large stones has been named "The Wedded Stones" and their rice straw rope is replaced 3 times a year due to wind, water erosion, representing the bond as perpetual.



I noticed the Darwin Arch columns appeared, after the collapse, each one more upright and balanced than they were trying to support the arch! The collapse almost looks planned, creating an entirely different vibe after the break.

If it was going to go, looks as if it did it in a good way, and the invisable rocks stay right there, with their friends in the water.

Here are some photos of the sea critters from the water at Darwin's Pillars:





Iconic Dive Site: Darwin’s Arch
By Joseph Tepper, July 1, 2016 @ 06:00 AM (EST)

http://www.divephotoguide.com/underwater-photography-travel/article/iconic-dive-site-darwins-arch/

Thank you, peppertree!

[Judi Lynn]

2. See How This Famed Arch in the Galapagos Looks Now After Collapsing Into the Ocean

Known as Darwin's Arch, it was over 140 feet long.

BY ALISON FOX MAY 19, 2021



A famous arch in the Galapagos collapsed this week likely because of natural erosion, Ecuador's Ministry of the Environment and Water announced.

The collapse of the top of the arch, known as the Darwin Arch, was reported on Monday, the ministry tweeted. The arch stood less than one kilometer from the island of Darwin — the northernmost island in the Galapagos.

"Darwin's Arch is made of natural stone that at one time would have been part of Darwin Island, which is not open to visits by land," the ministry tweeted on Monday. "The site is considered one of the best places on the planet to dive and observe schools of sharks and other species."

When it was still standing, the arch clocked in at 141 feet high, 230 feet long, and 75 feet wide, The Associated Press reported.

More:
https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/darwins-arch-galapagos-collapse