Galapagos Islands
 Galápagos Tortoise |
It is an archipelago made up of 13 main volcanic islands, 6 smaller islands, and 107 rocks and islets. The oldest island is thought to have formed between 5 and 10 million years ago, a result of tectonic activity. The youngest islands, Isabela and Fernandina, are still being formed, with the most recent volcanic eruption in 2005.
The islands are distributed around the equator, 965 kilometres (about 600 miles) west of Ecuador.
| Year | Decision | Comments |
| 2007 | In Danger | Serious conservation threats have intensified |
| 2001 | Extended | To include the Galápagos Marine Reserve |
| 1995 | Extension deferred | Marine extension deferred again - this time at request of Ecuador |
| 1994 | Extension deferred | Marine Reserve: deferred until mitigative action taken regarding threats |
| 1978 | Inscribed | Reasons for inscription |
Reviews
Paul Tanner (UK): 
The usual problem with taking “wild life” holidays is the uncertainty as to whether one will actually see the creatures one is traveling so far (and often paying so much!) to see. Over the years we have seen most of the animals we have gone to see – but it has sometimes taken several visits to do so – thus we have failed to see Gorillas in Gabon, Wolves in Alaska and Jaguars in Guyana.
A great thing about the Galapagos is that the animals WILL turn up on cue. There may not be a vast variety of species but, if an island is supposed to have a species, you will have to be very unlucky not to see it!!
And on top of that of course they are incredibly tame.
Darwin wrote at one point in his diary - 'I pushed off a branch with the end of my gun, a large hawk'.
It was wonderful to have this episode confirmed as we landed on an island and there in front of us was a Galapagos Hawk. As we approached closer and closer it did not attempt to move. We did not of course push it off its perch with a gun or anything else but there was no doubt that we could have if we had been so minded!
Have you been to Galapagos Islands? Share your experiences!
- Galapagos Islands
- Country: Ecuador
- Year: 1978
- In Danger
-
Natural Heritage
Criteria: (7) (8) (9) (10) - Category: Wildlife habitat, Fauna Natural landscape, Marine / Coastal
- Connections:
"Extended" Sites . "Recently" Extinct Mammals . Charles Darwin . Christopher Columbus . Endemic Bird Species . Equator . High entrance fees . Inscribed on all 4 Natural criteria . Lighthouses . Marine sites . Natural Arches and Bridges . Notable examples of island gigantism . Notable examples of multiple speciation in one site . Pacific Ocean . Penguins . Prison . Recently Active Volcanoes . Scientific Developments . Tombolos . Turtles and tortoises . Volcanic Hotspots . World Biosphere Reserves .
News and links:
» Galapagos under botanical alert for medfly invasion (20-08-2008).
» The Cerro Azul volcano on Isabela Island erupted between Thursday and Sunday, unleashing a heavy flow of lava but not affecting the islands' famed giant tortoises as first feared (04-06-2008).
» A U.S. company, Planktos Inc., plans to dump 100 tonnes of iron dust into the ocean near Ecuador's Galápagos Islands in an effort to reduce carbon dioxide, despite opposition from environmental groups and marine scientists. (25-04-2008).
» Ecuador investigates Galapagos Islands slaughter of more than 50 sea lions. (01-02-2008).
» Ecuador introduces entry cards to protect Galapagos Islands (23-10-2007).
» Ecuador says tourism is threatening the Galapagos Islands and has asked UNESCO to add the habitat that inspired the theory of evolution to its endangered list. (23-06-2007).
» Traveladventures.
» Schätze der Welt.
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