Galapagos Islands: Where History Comes Alive
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Located just south of the equator in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Galapagos Islands is a string of tiny volcanic
islands that have for centuries captured the imagination of explorers and naturalists from all over the globe. Visited by the
likes of Charles Darwin and Thor Heyerdahl, the Galapagos makes for an incredible vacation destination with its amazing
wealth of natural life. Roughly five million years old, these islands sit of the western coast of Ecuador and have been
declared a national park by the Ecuadorian Government.
Comprising of 19 islands and a number of islets, the Galapagos are spread out roughly over 50,000 sq km and play host to
some of the most rare and endangered animals on the planet. Also home to a number of endemic animal species, the likes
of which have been found no where else on earth, these islands have come to play a very important part in the understanding
of evolution and the history of the world.
The history of the Galapagos Islands is quite a unique one. Thought to be first discovered by the Inca tribes that lived on
mainland South America, these islands were first spotted by Bishop Tomas de Berlanga in 1535, while he was traveling from
Panama to Peru. The most amazing discovery of the trip was the giant tortoises or Galapago as they are known in Spanish,
which were found on the islands. Often used as a stopover base since its discovery, the Galapagos Islands sheltered bucca-
neers, pirates, whalers and sealers, who used this region. A great location due to its protected anchorage, the
availability of food, fresh water and firewood, these islands soon became a place for scientific discovery in the late
18th century.
Visited by Darwin in 1835, these islands provided him with a plethora of information that helped him form the basis of his
theory of evolution. Claimed by Ecuador in 1832, these islands slowly began to be inhabited and were soon used as penal
colonies, the last of which ultimately shut down in 1959. However, by 1934 the government of Ecuador had begun to realize
the importance of the Galapagos and a few islands were turned into wildlife sanctuaries. By 1959 after the penal colonies
were all closed, these islands became a national park with the Charles Darwin Research Station set up in Academy Bay
on Isla Santa Cruz. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO a few years later in 1979, this national park was expanded
to include the Galapagos Marine Resources Reserve in 1986.
A completely unique and extraordinary set of islands, the Galapagos takes you back in time to what the earth might have
looked like when it was much younger. Considered to be young by geologists, these islands are an ecosystem unto them-
selves. Therefore, it is key that we protect and preserve this precious habit for future generations, so as understand the world
we live in today from an environmental point of view. A wonderful getaway especially for those who enjoy nature,
you will find history come alive here amid the volcanoes and wildlife, both above and beneath the ocean.
Visit http://www.GoVisitGalapagos.com to get further comprehensive information on the incredible Galapagos Islands.
Aimed at providing tourists with the very best and most accurate travel details, http://www.GoVisitGalapagos.com lets you
tour these amazing islands in all its glory. Cruise details, historical background, transportation information can also be found
here.
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