Where are the Galapagos Islands, what animals live there, who owns them and are they inhabited by humans?
Brit biologist Charles Darwin developed a groundbreaking theory at the breathtaking archipelago
THE Galapagos Islands are more than just a series of breathtaking rock formations.
Brit biologist Charles Darwin developed his groundbreaking theory of natural selection there. Here is what you need to know.
Where are the Galapagos Islands?
The Galapagos Islands are a group of rock formations 600 miles west of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean.
The 19 islands, 13 large and six small, consist of islands and rocks formed at least five million years ago.
The archipelago emerged from the bottom of the sea after volcanic upheavals.
Galapagos is was originally called The Enchanted Islands
Mr Darwin made the archipelago famous.
The diversity of wildlife on the island led him to develop his theories.
Who owns them?
The Ecuadorean government took ownership of the islands in the 1960s, in a bid to make the most of its tourist potential.
The government classed the are as a national park.
What animals live there?
Darwin described the islands a s "living laboratory", because of its range of unique wildlife.
The islands are home to a wide array of wildlife including the famous Galapagos tortoises, turtles, seals, penguins and iguana.
Other animals include:
- Galapagos Albatross
- Blue-Footed Booby
- Naza-Booby
- Red-Footed Booby
- Flightless Cormorant
- American Flamingo
- Frigatebirds
- Galapagos Hawk
- Landd Iguana
- Marine Iguana
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Are they inhabited by humans?
Humans do live on the islands, but only four of them.
The first humans settled in Galapagos during the 1930s, but a boom in our specis took place in the 1980s.]
Pat Watkins is thought to be the first person to live in Galapagos.
The Irishman found himself on Floreana Island in 1805.
Now the four human-inhabited islands boast a range of tourist services including hotels.
Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela and Floreana offer hotels for tourists, but the others are do not permit any over-night stays.