Galápagos Islands

Galápagos Islands sit in a lonely archipelago about 1,000 kilometers off Ecuador's coast. The islands rise from the eastern Pacific Ocean and include 13 large islands plus dozens of islets. Spanish explorer Tomás de Berlanga reported the chain in 1535, and Ecuador claimed the territory three centuries later. Today only around 30,000 residents live mainly on Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabela, and Floreana. Cold and warm ocean currents swirl around the coasts, shaping the climate from island to island. The mix of currents, sunlight, and winds creates microclimates, so misty highlands, arid lowlands, and calm bays can appear on the same island.

Geologists describe the Galápagos as a textbook hot-spot province. Magma rises through Earth's crust and builds shield volcanoes that occasionally erupt. Layer upon layer of dark lava created gentle highlands, sharp cliffs, and black sand beaches. Most islands are still volcanic, with fumaroles and craters that seem frozen mid-eruption. Fernandina, the youngest island, often drips fresh basalt into the sea, while Española is older and more eroded. Because the Nazca tectonic plate keeps sliding eastward, islands slowly drift toward South America and cool over millions of years. This journey leaves a trail of habitats at different stages of development.

Wildlife adapted to each habitat in spectacular ways. Giant tortoises, marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and little Galápagos penguins evolved shapes and behaviors to fit their food sources. Many reptiles bask on lava ledges to warm up, while seabirds nest on cliffs safe from mammals. Sea lions nap on benches in Puerto Ayora and do not mind visitors who keep a respectful distance. This biodiversity thrives because each habitat offers food, shelter, and space with little competition. Seasonal bird migration brings blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, and albatrosses that court and raise chicks on open lava plains.

People study the islands as a living laboratory. In 1835, Charles Darwin observed shared ancestors adapting to new niches, an idea that helped him explain natural selection. Scientists still track finch beaks, iguana diets, and marine chemistry to understand change. Park rangers guide tourism so students, families, and divers can learn without damaging the land. Many marine animals, from hammerhead sharks to playful sea lions, weave through kelp forests and mangrove coves. Towns rely on eco-friendly ferries, solar power, and careful fishing rules so communities and wildlife can share the same coastline.

Conservation is at the heart of daily life. Nearly 97 percent of the land forms Galápagos National Park, and the surrounding seas are part of the Galápagos Marine Reserve. Patrol boats watch for illegal fishing, and strict biosecurity stops invasive species at airports and docks. Nutrient-rich upwelling supports plankton blooms, so removing too many fish could shake the whole ecosystem. Nutrient plumes rising from deep water feed plankton that support the entire food web. Students volunteer to replant scalesia forests, relocate tortoises from overbrowsed valleys, and clean beaches. Careful planning keeps the islands' volcanic landscapes, rare animals, and clear waters healthy for future generations of explorers.