There is no place on Earth quite like the extraordinary Galapagos Islands, an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, 972 kilometers west of continental Ecuador. The islands are geologically young and are famed for their great number of endemic species (that is, species unique to a particular geographic location) which were studied by Charles Darwin during the voyage of the Beagle. Darwin's research there contributed to the inception of his theory of evolution by natural selection.
The Galapagos Islands, formed due to an uneven line of chasms and ridges known as the Galapagos Rift, are in and of themselves a study of geology in action; in fact, the Galapagos Islands comprise one of the most volcanically active areas on Earth. More than 50 eruptions in 200 years have been recorded from the Galapagos volcanoes, six of which are still active. Most of the islands were made from a single volcanic cone rising to a high point with gentle slopes and a flat coastline. Española (the oldest of the chain) and Fernandina (the youngest), with their single volcanic cones, represent typical Galapagos volcanoes which are known as shield volcanoes - said to resemble a warrior's shield.
The creation of the islands was due mainly to the existence of three plates of the Earth's crust: the Pacific, the Nacza, and the Cocos. As a result of the spreading of the sea floor along the Galapagos Rift and the East Pacific Rise, the islands are moving east at more than seven centimeters per year. Because of this movement, the "hot spot" that formed the islands keeps forming new islands, resulting in the "trail" of islands that we call the Galapagos.
The best way to see Galapagos is on a boat-based cruise, although it is also possible to make day trips from a hotel on the islands. The islands are managed by the Galapagos National Park (GNP), which require all tourists to be accompanied by a qualified naturalist guide. The Park has designated more than 60 visitors' sites, enabling tourists to see all the best wildlife; the rest of the National Park is out of bounds to tourists. In addition to the land sites, Galapagos offers excellent diving opportunities.
There is no place on Earth quite like the extraordinary Galapagos Islands, an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, 972 kilometers west of continental Ecuador. The islands are geologically young and are famed for their great number of endemic species (that is, species unique to a particular geographic location) which were studied by Charles Darwin during the voyage of the Beagle. Darwin's research there contributed to the inception of his theory of evolution by natural selection.
The Galapagos Islands, formed due to an uneven line of chasms and ridges known as the Galapagos Rift, are in and of themselves a study of geology in action; in fact, the Galapagos Islands comprise one of the most volcanically active areas on Earth. More than 50 eruptions in 200 years have been recorded from the Galapagos volcanoes, six of which are still active. Most of the islands were made from a single volcanic cone rising to a high point with gentle slopes and a flat coastline. Española (the oldest of the chain) and Fernandina (the youngest), with their single volcanic cones, represent typical Galapagos volcanoes which are known as shield volcanoes - said to resemble a warrior's shield.
The creation of the islands was due mainly to the existence of three plates of the Earth's crust: the Pacific, the Nacza, and the Cocos. As a result of the spreading of the sea floor along the Galapagos Rift and the East Pacific Rise, the islands are moving east at more than seven centimeters per year. Because of this movement, the "hot spot" that formed the islands keeps forming new islands, resulting in the "trail" of islands that we call the Galapagos.
The best way to see Galapagos is on a boat-based cruise, although it is also possible to make day trips from a hotel on the islands. The islands are managed by the Galapagos National Park (GNP), which require all tourists to be accompanied by a qualified naturalist guide. The Park has designated more than 60 visitors' sites, enabling tourists to see all the best wildlife; the rest of the National Park is out of bounds to tourists. In addition to the land sites, Galapagos offers excellent diving opportunities.
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