One of the most popular natural tourist attractions on the Galapagos Island, the iconic Darwin's Arch rock formation, has collapsed due to erosion.
Ecuadorian environmental officials confirmed the news and shared photos of the collapse on social media.
"The attractive natural bridge located less than a kilometre from the main island Darwin, the northernmost of the archipelago of Galápagos. This event would be a consequence of natural erosion," a tweet from the Ecuador's Environment Ministry said.
"Darwin's Arch is made of natural stone that at one point would have been part of Darwin Island, which is not open to visits by land. The site is considered one of the best places on the planet to dive and observe schools of sharks and other species."
The arch was named after British naturalist Charles Darwin, and is located at the northernmost tip of the Galapagos Islands.
While people are banned from setting foot on the arch or any of its nearby islands, many tourists have taken photos of the iconic natural arch from boats and cruise ships. The waters surrounding the area are said to be teeming with wildlife including hammerhead sharks.
