The collapse of Darwin’s Arch serves as a reminder to humankind3 min read

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Darwin’s Arch is one of the most famous rock formations in the Galapagos islands in Ecuador. The Galapagos islands is a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean.

Owliver’s Obscure Observations:
An archipelago is a stretch of sea having many islands in it. Something like this:

It is found less than a kilometre from the main island. Around 30,000 people live in this archipelago separated across islands. It serves as a biosphere reserve for the bountiful flora and fauna it holds. It also has the largest aggregation of sharks in the world!

The arch was named after the English biologist Charles Darwin who gave the theory of evolution. He developed this theory when he visited the islands in 1835 by examining Galápagos finches. The island is abundant in diverse species earning it the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

At 11:20 a.m. local time on May 17, the arch collapsed in front of visitors on a diving board leaving behind only two pillars. Fortunately, no one was harmed in the process.

Why did the arch collapse?

According to the Ministry of Environment, Ecuador, the arch collapse due to natural erosion. The arch is made of natural stone. This means that all its raw materials come from the Earth itself! At one point the arch was a part of Darwin Island. But Darwin Island is not accessible to people. Its beauty can only be admired from a distant boat/yacht.

This site is considered to be one of the best places in the world for diving and surfing. It is a delight for divers with its underwater interactions with sea turtles, whale sharks, manta rays and dolphins. So, it is a sad day for those who have been dreaming about seeing the arch in all its glory!
According to Jen Jones of the Galápagos Conservation Trust, this collapse serves as a reminder to humankind—

The collapse of the arch is a reminder of how fragile our world is. While there is little that we as humans can do to stop geological processes such as erosion, we can endeavour to protect the islands’ precious marine life. Galápagos Conservation Trust is working with partners to protect these sharks both within the Galápagos marine reserve and on their migrations outside in the wider eastern tropical Pacific.”

Jen Jones, for The Guardian

Some members of the diving industry are calling the remaining structure “Pillars of Evolution”.

Sourced from The Guardian and CNN.