Good luck. The Galapagos Islands sit on what is called the Nazca Plate, one of many that form the Earth's crust. You can only truly say you have been to the Galapagos Islands if you have visited at least two of the TOP 8 Galapagos Islands that Experts agree showcase the archipelago’s best features.This carefully-curated list of islands from one of UNESCO’s Natural World Heritage Sites is your definite guide to selecting the best itinerary aboard the top Galapagos cruise and yachts. The Galapagos Islands are part of the country of Ecuador and are situated in the Pacific Ocean about 605 miles (1,000 kilometers) west of northern South America.The islands emerged from the bottom of the sea in the form of astonishing volcanic upheavals. Charles Darwin and the rest of the HMS Beagle crew spent only five weeks in the Galapagos Islands, but the research performed there and the species Darwin brought back to England were instrumental in the formation of a core part of the original theory of evolution and Darwin's ideas on natural selection which he published in his first book . (7845 sq. In the meantime, you can stay in one of the other rustic hotels and inns around the islands, at the luxurious Finch Bay on Santa Cruz, or even book an Airbnb. Why are finches in Galápagos Islands a good example of speciation? On Genovesa Island, this iconic species has developed a unique hunting behavior: they are diurnal hunters that feed mainly from the big colony of storm petrels that inhabit this island. So why the volcanoes? The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed on either side of the equator in the Pacific Ocean surrounding the centre of the Western Hemisphere, [ 906 km (563 mi) west of continental Ecuador. ] The Frigate bird of the Galápagos Islands. The Galapagos Islands can be described how? They were given their current name by Abraham Ortelier in 1574 after the giant tortoises. It is a proper noun, the name of a group of islands off the west coast of South America. The isolation makes it hard for mammals to survive the long journey afloat at sea, but reptiles are a little harder in this regard. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the Nazca plate is not colliding with any other. A hot spot is a place where the magma in the Earth is hotter than usual. Asked by Miny Mousee. Miny Mousee February 19, 2020 1:13PM. See more. The Galapagos Islands have been inspiring visitors since Charles Darwin stepped ashore in 1835. 3029 sq. In the Galapagos Islands, a variety of fascinating reptile species can be found. The Galapagos Islands are the home of modern ecology, where noted ecologist Charles Darwin developed his theories on evolution and adaptation.. And they are the location that ecologists from all over the world continue to flock to in their studies of the world's most unique ecosystems. Yes it is a noun. With Airbnb, you can double-dip and earn Delta SkyMiles to boot. It is typical that islands far from the continent have few native mammal species. Galapagos volcanoes are created by a "hot spot." The Galapagos Islands can be described as an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed on either side of the Equator in the Pacific Ocean surrounding the centre of the Western Hemisphere, 906 km (563 mi) west of continental Ecuador. km). Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos Islands were discovered in 1535 by Fray Tomas de Berlanga, bishop of Panama who drifted across them while on a voyage from Panama to Lima, Peru. Galapagos is Spanish for a saddle a reference to the shape of the carapace (shell) of the saddleback tortoises found on some of the islands. Such a unique creature was bound to make a naturalist such as Darwin wonder why. These finches breed and reproduce over time, and they flew to different islands. Charles Darwin, Galapagos and “The Origin of Species” The name of Charles Darwin and his famous book The Origin of Species will forever be linked with the Galapagos Islands.