Darwin's Arch, Galápagos, Ecuador

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Darwin's Arch

Today we’re visiting Darwin’s Arch, named after the famous English naturalist Charles Darwin. The last time the arch looked as it does in this image was 17 May 2021. That’s when this sea arch collapsed due to natural erosion and became a pile of rubble between what is now two pillars. Some locals and scientists have renamed the rocks the 'Pillars of Evolution', a reference to Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection.

Sea arches are found all over the world, often where cliffs meet the sea. They're formed as waves erode the underside of a rock, leaving the top. Darwin’s Arch is located south-east of Darwin Island, part of the Galápagos archipelago in the Pacific Ocean.