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old Hōlei Sea Arch has collapsed into the sea
BBC • • nation
Key Points:
- Hawaii's Hōlei Sea Arch, a 90-foot-tall lava rock formation about 550 years old, has collapsed into the Pacific Ocean between 23 and 27 September, according to the National Park Service (NPS).
- The arch, located in Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, was a popular tourist attraction but had shown signs of instability for years, with warnings issued in 2021 about its eventual collapse.
- Damage from the 2018 Kīlauea volcano eruption, earthquakes, and tropical storms contributed to the weakening of the arch and surrounding cliffs, leading to the closure of the original viewing area in 2020.
- The NPS noted that the sea arch was a temporary natural formation with a limited lifespan and that similar structures will form as the coastline continues to erode and change over time.
- The collapse prompted an outpouring of memories and reflections from the public on social media, highlighting the transient nature of natural landmarks.
