Go Galapagos!!!!
The site of Charles Darwin’s studies. The islands are unique, pristine and has an isolated eco system. They were once a criminal hideout and a prison. Here are some interesting information about this magnificent and protected National Park
It was discovered in the year 1935 by Fray Tomas de Berlanga. He was a Bishop of Panama and sailed to Peru to settle a dispute over a territory. The ship in which he was sailing had become becalmed ( unable to move through lack of wind) and drifted towards the islands. So in the discovery was purely accidental.
It got its name because of the famous species of giant tortoise found on Santa Cruz island. The official name is Archipielago de Colon.
The first map of the islands was not by a cartographer but by a pirate named Ambrose Cowley. The islands were home to pirates and criminals until the late 1600s. Ecuador claimed possession in 1832. The first governor was Jose Villamil. He established a penal colony there.
Is consists of 13 major islands, 8 smaller islands and 40 islets. The largest island is Isabela and Volcan Wolf is the highest geographical point in this island
Charles Darwin visited the islands in 1835. He spent 5 weeks on the island observing, collecting and preserving specimens. The studies conducted assisted him to reach his theory on Natural Selection and was published in his book “On the origin of species by Natural selection”.
During Word War II, USA built an airfield in the island Baltra and constructed a naval base with the permission of the Ecuadorian government. They were handed over back to Ecuador after the hostilities with Japan end. The airfield is still in use today.
There is a natural arch near the Darwin Island. It is been voted as the best diving sites in the world for a several years in a row.
Wildlife most likely seen in the islands are Giant Tortoises, Marine Iguana, Darwin’s Finches, small sized Penguins, Blue Footed Booby, Sea Lions, Frigatebird, Sally Light Foot Crabs, Land Iguanas, Green Turtles etc.
It is an UNESCO World Heritage site, the primary concern is to protect the rare wild life. It is mandatory for all visitors to sign a form ‘ promising to leave islands unchanged’.