
According to news sources, the top of Darwin’s Arch, a famous natural stone archway in the northern Galapagos Islands, has collapsed into the waves.
The arch, which was less than 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) off Darwin Island’s steep and rocky coast, collapsed on May 17 as “a result of natural erosion,” according to a tweet from Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment and Water.
The natural arch was named after Charles Darwin, an English naturalist who studied evolution in the Galapagos during his early 1830s journey aboard the HMS Beagle. According to CNN, now that the arch’s top has been gone, one travel agency, Aggressor Adventures, has dubbed the two stone monoliths that remain “The Pillars of Evolution.”

According to a 2014 study published in the journal PLOS One, Darwin Island is a volcanic island that stands on a rocky platform about 32 feet (10 meters) underwater. This platform stretches to the southeast, past Darwin’s Arch. “At one stage [the arch] would have been part of Darwin Island,” the ministry said in a second tweet, apparently alluding to when sea levels were lower.
According to the PLOS One study, the platform that holds the island and the bridge dips into a steep slope that drops more than 328 feet (100 m).

While travelers won’t be able to see the arch from land since Darwin Island is closed to visitors, the seas off its coast are “considered one of the best spots on the planet to dive and view schools of sharks and other animals,” according to the ministry’s second tweet.
Pregnant whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) made “extensive use of Darwin’s Arch,” according to a study published in PLOS One.
Informamos que hoy 17 de mayo, se reportó el colapso del Arco de Darwin, el atractivo puente natural ubicado a menos de un kilómetro de la isla principal Darwin, la más norte del archipiélago de #Galápagos. Este suceso sería consecuencia de la erosión natural.
— Min. de Ambiente, Agua y Transición Ecológica 🇪🇨 (@Ambiente_Ec) May 17, 2021
📷Héctor Barrera pic.twitter.com/lBZJWNbgHg
The scientists said in the article that previous research had revealed that the waters surrounding the arch were “home to an unusually high density of numerous species of sharks and other reef and pelagic [open ocean] fish that alter on a seasonal basis.” According to the Galapagos Conservancy, this includes hammerhead sharks and other sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, and dolphins.
The researchers found that whale sharks use Darwin Island “as a crucial stopover in a journey, probably for reproductive purposes.”
The Galapagos Marine Reserve was established to safeguard sea life, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization has classified the Galapagos Islands as a World Heritage Site (UNESCO). The islands will no longer appear the same without the arch, but the whale sharks should be unaffected.

The Mystical Money Tree of the Scottish Highlands: A 1,700-Year-Old Tradition
In the Peak District Forest of the Scottish Highlands in the UK, there is a unique tree which is laden with only money. This tree laden with money has been studded with British coins for 1700 years, there is no corner of its trunk where a British coin is not stuck.

Taal volcano: The Island in a Lake on an Island in a Lake on an Island
Lake Taal, on the island of Luzon, in the Philippines archipelago's northernmost reaches, is unique. It's now one of just two lakes in the world with a third-order island within it, with the lake itself being a part of the order. In other words, Lake Taal, which is located on the island of Luzon, has a volcano (Volcano Island), a lake (Crater Lake), and its own little island (Vulcan Point).

Poland's Krzywy: The Mysteries of the Crooked trees
In Poland, there is a forest with 400 crooked trees that have a 90-degree bend at the base of their trunks. Despite of numerous possibilities, the real reason and how it evolved remain a mystery.

Top 10 Mysterious And Least Explored Places On Earth
Some people believe that there is nothing unexplored remaining on earth but the world doesn't cease to surprise us with its mysteries. Today I'll tell you about the lost places of the planet and animals that live only there.

What is secret behind the Australia’s mysterious pink lake?
Lake Hillier in Australia maintains a bright pink hue all year round. Although no one knows for sure what causes the unique coloring, experts speculate that it might be the result of high salinity, a pink bacteria called “halobacteria,” and a salt-loving algae species called Dunaliella salina.

Grüner See, The Park That Turns Into A Giant Lake Naturally
There is a place in Austria called Grüner See which is a dry park in winter and turns into a 12-meter-deep lake in summer.

The Unique Grana Double Tree of Piedmont, Italy
The “Grana Double Tree” in Piedmont, Italy is a highly unusual tree, which consists of a cherry tree growing atop a mulberry tree. It is essentially a two-species, two-tiered hybrid duplex.

Top 10 Greatest and shocking Archaeological Discoveries of All Time
While we're all locked at home, there's no better way to escape to another time and place than to learn about amazing archeological sites and discoveries from around the world. Here are the 10 greatest and shocking archaeological discoveries —and don't be shocked if they inspire future trip plans whenever it's safe to do so again.

How Were the Two Parts of the Al Naslaa Rock Formation Created?
Scientists have been puzzled by the Al Naslaa rock formation in Saudi Arabia for a long time, and there is still no explanation for why this boulder appears to have a precise incision across the middle of it.

Famous abandoned cities and ghost towns in the world
Learn the stories behind seven of the world's most renowned abandoned cities and villages, from the infamous Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe zone to Hashima Island.

9 countries at risk of disappearing due to climate change
Although global warming is a serious threat to the entire planet, some geographical regions are more vulnerable to its effects.

The unusual ability of 'sea nomads' to hold breath is due to one major organ
The Bajau are a group of people that practice extreme free diving, submerging for up to 13 minutes at depths of about 200 feet. These ‘sea nomads’ dive to catch fish or look for natural materials that can be used in crafts in the waters that surround the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

How European Rabbits Took over Australia
In 1859, wealthy settler Thomas Austin released 13 wild rabbits on his Australian estate. By 1920, their population grew to 10 billion.

The Benefits of Forest Bathing and Why It’s Gaining Popularity Worldwide
Forest bathing, or Shinrin-yoku, is an immersive practice of spending mindful time in natural forest environments, and it’s rapidly gaining global popularity due to its proven health benefits. From reducing stress and lowering blood pressure to boosting immunity and enhancing mental wellness, forest bathing offers a natural and accessible way to reconnect with nature and improve overall well-being. Explore the science, sensory experience, and rising trend behind this soothing practice.

Sandy Island: The Phantom Island That Fooled Maps and Google Earth for Centuries
Sandy Island, charted since 1774, was long considered a phantom island in the Coral Sea. Despite appearing on maps and Google Earth, it was "undiscovered" by scientists in 2012, revealing only deep ocean instead of land. The island's existence was likely a cartographic error or a misidentified pumice raft.

The Mystery of Canada's Magical Spotted Lake
Lake Khiluk, the world's most mineralized lake, and one of the most mysterious places on Earth. Each of these spots has a distinct chemical content and is said to cure various diseases.

The Amazing Hanging Stone in Siberia Has Defied Gravity Since the Ice Age
The unbelievable "Hanging Stone" of Siberia weighs around 300 tons and has been hanging off a 1,000-meter cliff since the Ice Age.

8 most amazing natural phenomena on earth
Nature is elusive and unpredictable, and the unexplained manifestations of its influence often leave us speechless. Though you might believe that shifting rocks and blood-colored rain are a prank or a magical phenomenon, science has an explanation for (almost) anything.

The story behind Glasgow's iconic Duke of Wellington statue and its well-known traffic cone hat
The city of Glasgow spends approximately £10,000 every year to remove traffic cones from the head of the Duke of Wellington statue. The Duke of Wellington statue, which first appeared in the early 1980s, has worn an orange traffic cone hat for decades. but how did it get there - and more importantly how did it stay?

Circular Bridge Built To Slow Down Drivers So That They Would Enjoy The View (Photos)
Uruguay’s Laguna Garzon Bridge splits into a circle so drivers can slow down and enjoy the view. It also prevents head-on collisions and creates a walkway for pedestrians.

The mysterious GIANT spherical stones
Mysterious spherical stones ranging in size from a few millimeters to several meters have been discovered in Crimea, United States, Russia, and New Zealand. There are many theories from various geologists, but none of them are clear.

Mill Ends Park, the Smallest Park in the World
Portland, Oregon is home to the tiniest park in the world, a two-foot-diameter circle. Mill End Park is the name of this park.

This soon-to-be-closed train station in Japan only serves one passenger
Japan keeps a defunc train station operational in 2015 for the sole purpose of allowing one girl to go to school every day. Only two stops are made by the train: once when an only one high school student departs for school and once when she returns.

How Sweden’s 300,000 Oak Trees Became an Unintended Legacy: The Naval Forest That Outlived Wooden Warships
In the 1830s, Sweden planted 300,000 oak trees for the purpose of building naval ships. However, by the time the trees matured, metal warships had replaced the need for wooden ones. The forest still stands to this day.

How Migratory Birds Navigate Thousands of Miles Without Getting Lost
Migratory birds undertake epic journeys spanning thousands of miles with astonishing precision, never losing their way. Their secret lies in a remarkable blend of innate senses, learned experience, and sophisticated navigation tools—ranging from the Earth's magnetic field to celestial clues and mental maps. Explore how these feathered travelers accomplish one of nature's most astounding feats through science, intuition, and adaptation.