Darwin's Arch is a famous symbol of the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), named after the famous biologist Charles Darwin. But images of the island's arch are now only memories because of its collapse due to natural erosion.
Darwin Arch is a natural rock arch located in the northern part of the Galapagos Islands and is named after the famous biologist and father of evolution, Charles Darwin. He studied birds on the Galapagos in the 19th century. This research contributed greatly to Darwin's theory of evolution.
Photo: Internet
The waters around Darwin Arch are considered the world's top diving spots, attracting many tourists to experience. Galapatours website introduces Darwin as a diving spot that allows visitors to observe hammerhead sharks and whale sharks. In addition, divers can also swim with green turtles, rays, dolphins and other colorful fish.
Photo: Thomas Peschak
Whether large or small, the shape of Darwin's arch makes many people think that it is the work of human hands. However, this is completely the result of the process of shifting rocks in nature over thousands of years and without any human intervention. With its impressive beauty, this place has attracted many tourists from all over the world and appeared in many famous photos.
Photo: Internet
However, recently on May 18, the Ecuadorian Ministry of Environment announced that the famous Darwin Arch had collapsed. A report from the Ministry of Environment indicated that the collapse of the arch was due to natural erosion. Images released by the authorities show that the Darwin Arch now has only two stone pillars remaining.
The diving website Scuba Diver Live said several tourists on their way to dive witnessed the collapse. No tourists were injured in the incident.
The collapse of Darwin Arch has left many people regretful. According to Ms. Jen Jones, a member of the Galapagos Nature Conservancy, this is sad news for this organization. “The collapse of the arch shows how vulnerable our world is. While there is little humans can do to stop geological processes such as erosion, we can make efforts to protect the island's marine resources,” she said.
about GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Lying about 1,000 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are home to unique flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth and are part of a biosphere reserve. The archipelago is made up of 234 islands, inlets and rocky outcrops, four of which are home to about 30,000 people.
In 1978, the Galapagos Islands were recognized as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The islands are also the place that inspired British researcher Charles Darwin to discover the theory of evolution in the 19th century. The archipelago, which is considered the most beautiful on the planet, possesses a unique ecosystem, separate from the world. Besides the diverse marine ecosystem, Galapagos is also famous for another unique natural symbol, Darwin's Arch.
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