A to Z of Must-Do Travel Experiences – G for ‘Galapagos Islands’
{ Tags: Galapagos Islands. Lonesome George, Giant Tortoise \ Jun8 }
The Galápagos Islands are a small archipelago of islands in the eastern Pacific Ocean, which belong to Ecuador. There are altogether 13 main islands and six smaller isles, which cover about 50,000 square kilometres of ocean. The islands are located across the equator, with some lying in the northern hemisphere, and some lying in the south. They are situated some distance from the nearest land mass, the nearest being Ecuador at 972 kilometres to the east.
The island is famous for its huge range of endemic species, or animals that are unique to a particular geographic location. Some of the unique and unusual species that hail from these islands include the land iguana and the giant tortoise. This was also the place that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, following his visit in 1835.
Access to the islands, outside of the towns, is strictly only through guided tours. A good way to see the islands and its wildlife is by boat tours. The Galapagos Islands are also excellent for snorkelling and diving. Make sure to leave time to see Lonesome George, the last known individual of the Pinta Island Tortoise, who is currently residing in the Charles Darwin Research Station at Santa Cruz.