[imagesource: iStock / Aggressor Adventures]

The iconic UNESCO World Heritage site in the Galapagos Islands, which inspired English biologist Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, has partly collapsed into the sea.

Although the famous rock formation will be missed by many, it could be said that Darwin’s Arch merely changed shape… you know, because of evolution.

Via CNN, the top of Darwin’s Arch fell as “a consequence of natural erosion,” according to the Ministry of Environment for Ecuador.

The structure now consists of just two pillars:

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.

?Héctor Barrera pic.twitter.com/lBZJWNbgHg

— Ministerio del Ambiente y Agua de Ecuador (@Ambiente_Ec) May 17, 2021

The tweet is loosely translated as follows:

We inform you that today, May 17, the collapse of the Darwin Arch was reported, the attractive natural bridge located less than a kilometer from the main island Darwin, the northernmost island of the #Galapagos archipelago.

This event would be a consequence of natural erosion.

Now, a few people are referring to it as “The Pillars of Evolution”.

Apt.

This northern part of the Pacific Ocean archipelago, located hundreds of miles off the coast of Ecuador, is considered to be one of the best diving spots in the world.

Tour company Aggressor Adventures mentioned on Facebook that one of its tour groups was there to witness the incident take place:

“Unfortunately today, our guests of the Galapagos Aggressor III experienced a once in a lifetime event,” the company shared.

“This morning at 11:20AM local time, the world famous Darwin’s Arch collapsed in front of their eyes.

“Some in the dive & travel industry are already referring to this now as ‘The Pillars of Evolution’. We will miss this iconic site.”

People on Twitter are embracing the change, in true Darwinian style:

It's sad the arch collapsed however, I'm glad that I am alive during this time to see the Earth shaping itself. This can now be called Darwin's Towers instead of Darwin's Arch now. This beautiful planet is always adapting and what a great place to evolve. Darwin's Arch to Towers.

— Cain The Red Fox (@CainTheRedFox) May 19, 2021

If this ain't Darwinian, I don't know what is???!!!

— Larry Dvoskin (@LarryDvoskin) May 19, 2021

So can a cool rope bridge be installed now? Survival of the fittest at its finest. Evolution is pretty cool in the end.

— Chris Ghent (@ChrisGhent) May 19, 2021

Destruction is creation?

[source:cnn]