The famous Holly Sea Arch in Hawaii collapses after more than 5 centuries of its formation

A massive sea arch, long considered one of the most prominent natural landmarks on the rugged coast of Hawaii, collapsed and fell into the Pacific Ocean more than 500 years after its natural formation, according to what the local parks department confirmed.

The Hōlei Sea Arch was about 27 meters high inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the south coast of the Big Island, the largest and geologically oldest island in the Hawaiian archipelago.

The arch was formed about 550 years ago, when ancient lava flows resulting from the eruption of one of the six volcanoes on the island reached the edges of the rocky cliffs, carving out this arched cavity, thus creating a natural wonder that has attracted visitors to the site for many years, according to the US National Park Service.

Although the exact timing of the arch's collapse is unknown, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park staff indicated on social media on Thursday that the arch was still standing on Wednesday, September 23, when the park was temporarily closed during Tropical Storm Nolo.

When the park reopened on Monday, September 28, the arch was gone.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park confirmed the news in posts on Facebook and Instagram, along with before-and-after photos showing the dramatic change in scenery: “Yes, it's true. Goodbye Holly Sea Arch.”

“Holly Sea Arch was a very special place for many of our visitors,” he added.

But this dramatic transformation of the wild and remote coast has been long expected, according to the National Park Service.

The administration said in a description of the site on its website: “This formation is beautiful, but it is temporary and has a limited lifespan.”

She added: “The sea arch will eventually collapse into the sea. However, other arches will take its place as the shelf gradually retreats toward the land.”

The National Park Service explained that the lifespan of a cliff is determined by a process known as differential erosion, a process in which softer rocks erode more quickly and to a greater extent than stronger, more resistant rocks.

The landscape is constantly being reshaped by differential erosion, the same process that led to the formation of this arch more than five centuries ago.

Park staff knew that the continuous waves hitting the sea arch would eventually cause it to fall into the Pacific Ocean, although they were not able to predict exactly when this would happen.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park urged visitors to stay away from unstable cliff edges, to avoid putting themselves or emergency response teams in danger.