Ecuador: Galapagos icon, Darwin's Arch, collapses Boat tourists in the Galapagos reportedly saw Darwin's Arch collapse into the Pacific Ocean. The unique rock formation, named after the British naturalist Charles Darwin, was often compared to France's Arc de Triomphe. Only two pillars of rock remain where Darwin's Arch once stood "Natural erosion" triggered the collapse of Darwin's Arch in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador's Environment Ministry said. Images distributed Tuesday show only two rocky pillars left at the northernmost island of the Pacific Ocean archipelago, which lies 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) off the South American continent. The iconic arch is famed as a diving spot for underwater encounters with sea turtles, whale sharks, manta rays and dolphins. Diving website Scuba Diver Life said visitors on a diving boat witnessed the collapse just before midday local time on Monday, adding that no divers were harmed.