 Darwin's Arch, 2006 | |
  Darwin's Arch Location in the Galápagos Islands Show map of Galápagos Islands Darwin's Arch Location in the Pacific Ocean Show map of Pacific Ocean | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Southeast ofDarwin Island,Galápagos Islands,Ecuador |
| Coordinates | 1°40′19.2″N91°59′26.6″W / 1.672000°N 91.990722°W /1.672000; -91.990722 |
| Archipelago | Galápagos Islands |
| Administration | |
Darwin's Arch (Spanish:Arco de Darwin) was anatural rock arch feature to the south-east ofDarwin Island in theGalápagos Archipelago in thePacific Ocean, and is now a pillar formation. The arch sat on an irregularly shaped, rocky, submerged plateau, nicknamed "the theatre".[1][2] The arch collapsed into the sea on 17 May 2021 from naturalerosion.[3][4][5]
Darwin's Arch, along with the nearby Darwin Island, was named after EnglishnaturalistCharles Darwin, whose studies in the surrounding area helped him to form his theory ofevolution by means ofnatural selection. As a tribute to Darwin and his works, some locals and industry professionals have nicknamed the remaining stone "towers" thePillars of Evolution[6] (Spanish:Los Pilares de la Evolución).
Part ofEcuador'sGalápagos Archipelago,Darwin Island is a small, uninhabited island with an area of 2.33 square kilometres (0.90 sq mi) and an elevation of 168 metres (551 ft). Darwin's Arch was 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) to the southeast of the island and had a bridge-like appearance, which had been caused by erosion.[7] The plateau's wall drops away into the sea, and the arch's ocean side featured a "viewing platform" at 18 metres (59 ft).[8] The arch was 43 metres (141 ft) high, 70 metres (230 ft) long, and 23 metres (75 ft) wide.[9]
From its southern tip to the sloping channel, the marine fauna seen arescalloped hammerheads,manta rays,big-eye jacks,bonito,yellowfin tuna,dolphins, big schooling of species ofpelagic fish, and alsowhale sharks of up to 14 metres (45 ft) in length. The whale sharks are found from early July.[1][2] Other marine fauna includeMoorish idols,Galapagos sharks,eagle rays,green turtles,hawksbill turtles,silkie andwhite-tipped reef sharks,barracuda and black jack sharks.[10][11] Many birds are endemic and the species commonly noted is thesooty tern (Sterna fuscata), which breeds on Darwin Island.[1]
The arch was popular with photographers and cruise-ship tours.[12] The rich wildlife around the arch made it a popular scuba diving location.[13] As with Darwin Island, tourists were not permitted to set foot on the arch.[12] The surrounding area of the Galápagos Islands was declared aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site in 1978.[13]
On 17 May 2021, at 11:20 a.m.Galápagos Time (UTC–6),[3] the arch collapsed through natural erosion. A post from Ecuador's Ministry of Environment and Water stated that "this event was a consequence of natural erosion. 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."[14] The event was witnessed by divers aboard theGalapagos Aggressor III.[3]
Following the collapse of the arch, the remaining columns of rock have been nicknamed the "Pillars of Evolution" (Spanish:Los Pilares de la Evolución) by locals in the tourism and diving industry.[6][15] The nickname alludes to the arch and the nearby island having been named after Charles Darwin, whose studies of the surrounding area's wildlife contributed to theinception of his theory ofevolution by means ofnatural selection.[6]
Media related toDarwin's Arch at Wikimedia Commons
