Darwin’s Arch

Due to their great natural value, the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The islands, which are home to several species found nowhere else on the planet, such as the marine iguana, often attract travelers from all over the world. The most well-known natural attraction on the islands, however, no longer exists. The Darwin's Arch was a natural arch-like rock feature named after Darwin's famous visit to the islands in 1835, which later inspired his theory of evolution.

Darwin's Arch was a natural rock arch feature in the Galápagos Archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, and it is now a pillar formation. The arch sat on an irregularly formed, rocky, submerged plateau, nicknamed "the theatre". It was a popular diving location and can still be found on postcards and other travel mementos from the area. The upper half of the arch collapsed in May 2017, according to images released by Ecuador's Environment Ministry, most likely due to natural weathering.

Location: Southeast of Darwin Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Collapsed: into the sea on 17 May 2021