Lying 970 km (600 miles) west of the Ecuadorian coast, at the Equator line, the Galapagos Islands consist of 6 main islands 12 smaller islands and over 40 small islets. All the islands are the peaks of gigantic volcanoes originated by so called "hot spots" 10 million years ago.
When you visit the Islands you will quickly understand why the Spanish pirate Diego de Rivadeneira named the islands "Las Islas Encantadas (The enchanted islands). You will see prehistoric seeming land iguanas, 11 species of giant tortoises which gave the island their name (galapago= tortoise in Spanish), mocking birds pecking at your shoe laces, curious sea lions playing with you while your snorkeling, 13 species of endemic finches (the famous Darwin finches), moon like landscapes and mist-covered volcanic peaks, red sand beaches, strange forests of prickly pear cactus, the world's pinkest flamingoes (!), the biggest breeding-colony of albatrosses in the world, blue-footed boobies performing their "sky pointing" dance, hunting penguins swimming around your legs.
The Galapagos Islands are famous for its rare species. All the reptiles, half of the plants and 40% of the birds are endemic to the Galapagos, which means that they can not be found anywhere else in the world.
|
