The Galapagos Islands are a group of islands off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. There are 18 main islands, three smaller islands and 107 rocks and islets. Islets are extremely small islands. The islands are known for their hundreds of unique animals that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. There are giant tortoises called the Galapagos tortoises. They are extremely docile and very large. The Marine iguana dives into the nearby ocean and feeds on the nutritious seaweed. They also have special glands that allow them to sneeze out the extra salt that they collect during their dives. These amazing animals are so different from what can be found in mainland Ecuador and the rest of the world because the islands are so remote and isolated.
• The largest island is Isabela.
• It is officially part of Ecuador.
• The islands are 620 miles from the mainland.
• The animals are not afraid of humans; this can make them vulnerable.
• It is the first protected World Heritage site.
• They are volcanic islands and still have volcanic eruptions.
• It is estimated that the islands are between 3 and 10 million years old.
• Some islands are above the equator and some are below.
• The highest point is the Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island, it is 5,600 feet high.
• Europeans discovered the islands in 1535.
• Combined, the islands have 87 miles of coast.
• There are two seasons, wet (December to May) and dry (June to December).
• Lonely George is 90 years old and the only living Giant Pinta tortoise left alive.
• The islands are a national park.
• There are more than 800 species of mollusks.
Charles Darwin came to the islands in 1835. He was so inspired by the incredible diversity and amazing animals that he saw on the island that he studied them and then wrote his famous book about evolution Theory on the Origin of Man, about how animals naturally change over long periods of time. These islands still inspire scientists. Tourism is limited to protect the islands, but scientists are always welcome to learn from these beautiful animals.
