The Galápagos Islands are a concatenation of islands, or archipelago, in the eastern Pacific Bounding main. They are part of the country of Republic of ecuador, in Due south America. The Galápagos lie about 966 kilometers (600 miles) off of the Ecuadorian coast.

In that location are thirteen major islands and a handful of smaller islands that make up the Galápagos archipelago. The largest of the islands is called Isabela. It is approximately 129 kilometers (80 miles) long. Repeated volcanic eruptions helped to grade the rugged mountain landscape of the Galápagos Islands.

The Galápagos are best known for their diverse array of plant and animal species. Many species are endemic, which means they are non found anywhere else in the world. These include the giant Galápagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra), the marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), the flightless cormorant (Phalacrocoraz harrisi), and the Galápagos penguin. The Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) is the simply penguin species to live in the Northern Hemisphere.

Environmental weather condition make the Galápagos a unique isle ecosystem. The Galápagos Islands are located well-nigh the equator, notwithstanding they receive cool sea currents. This makes for a strange mix of tropical and temperate climates. For near of their history, the islands accept been extremely isolated. This combination of factors created a laboratory for the evolution of an unusual mix of establish and animal species.

Scientists have studied this complex ecosystem for more 180 years. British naturalist Charles Darwin may be the most influential scientist to have visited the Galápagos Islands. Darwin get-go came to the Galápagos in 1835, on a send chosen the HMS Beagle. His observations of wildlife on the isle inspired his theory of evolution by natural selection.

Today, scientists study the archipelago's aquatic ecosystems as well. For example, marine ecologist Salome Ursula Burglass works to identify and depict the found and animal species living on and around the underwater, deep-ocean volcanoes, or seamounts, in the Galápagos.

Galápagos Islands

The marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is the only iguana known to swim in the ocean

aquatic

Adjective

having to exercise with h2o.

Noun

a group of closely scattered islands in a large trunk of water.

Substantive

(1809-1882) British naturalist.

Noun

edge of land along the sea or other large body of h2o.

Noun

steady, predictable flow of fluid inside a larger body of that fluid.

diverse

Adjective

varied or having many different types.

ecologist

Noun

scientist who studies the relationships between organisms and their environments.

ecologist

Noun

scientist who studies the relationships between organisms and their environments.

Noun

community and interactions of living and nonliving things in an area.

endemic

Adjective

native to a specific geographic space.

evolution

Substantive

alter in heritable traits of a population over time.

isolated

Adjective

solitary or separated from others.

marine

Adjective

having to do with the body of water.

marine

Describing word

having to do with the ocean.

naturalist

Noun

person who studies the natural history or natural development of organisms and the surroundings.

Noun

process by which organisms that are improve -adapted to their environments produce more than offspring to transmit their genetic characteristics.

seamount

Substantive

underwater mountain.

species

Substantive

grouping of like organisms that tin can reproduce with each other.

temperate

Describing word

moderate.

tropical

Adjective

existing in the tropics, the latitudes betwixt the Tropic of Cancer in the northward and the Tropic of Capricorn in the south.

Noun

an opening in the Earth's crust, through which lava, ash, and gases erupt, and also the cone built by eruptions.

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    Managing director

    Tyson Brown, National Geographic Society

    Author

    National Geographic Society

    Product Managers

    Gina Borgia, National Geographic Guild
    Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Society

    Plan Specialists

    Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society
    Margot Willis, National Geographic Order

    Last Updated

    Aug. 23, 2019

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