Darwin's Arch

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/darwins-arch

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the location?Off the coast of Darwin Island, Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador
2. What is the original geological feature?A natural rock arch
3. Why was it named after Charles Darwin?Scientists named it to honor Charles Darwin, who studied the Galápagos and helped explain how species change over time.
4. How did Darwin's Arch collapse?Waves, tides, and salty spray slowly wore away the rock. On May 17, 2021, the arch broke apart and fell into the sea.

Galápagos Archipelago: A volcanic island chain in the eastern Pacific Ocean, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its unique biodiversity and evolutionary significance.
Natural Erosion: The geological process by which earth materials are worn away and transported by natural agents such as wind, water, and ice.
Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection: Charles Darwin's scientific framework explaining how species change over time through inherited traits that enhance survival and reproduction.
Endemism: The ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island or archipelago.