OK, so it is clear that a number of you have no idea where the Galapagos is or what its significance in the World is. So I will do my best to explain.
The Galapagos Islands sites 1000km off the coast of ecuador and it is made up of about 20 islands and 60 largish rocks. The Galapagos Islands straddle the Equator and they sit directly above one of the Earth's hotspots. It is this hotspot that has created the Galapagos islands. They were not there 2 million years ago. Now I know that sounds like a long time ago, but 2 million years is like a 1 day old baby in geological terms.
The islands site at one of the most amazing ocean locations on the planet. It is the meeting point of 3 of the Worlds major ocean currents, coming from Panama, south America and the west. This brings an extrodinary array of marine life and mamals such as penguins. Penguins.... at the equator... think about that for a sec.
The Islands were the base for the Charles Darwins Theory on Evolution. During a 6 week visit on the Beagle he visited the islands and noticed the islands were very yound geologically and that it was impossible for the animals and plant species on the islands to have been developed there as it was all Lava fields and volcanoes.
He surmised that the animals made it to the islands by a rafting system that drifted them to the islands on the currents mentioned above. The majority of land based animals on the islands such as the Iguanas and the tortises have NO natural predators and this makes them have no fear of being eaten. This makes them very tame. They are not afraid of humans either which makes for an amazing wildlife experience.
He also noticed that the animals differed from those on the mainland and even differed from Island to Island in the chain. 30 years later he publised his origin of Species work which theorised that animals evolved to suit their environment, and as such, changed the World and its understanding of Evolution, which until that time had been driven by Creationism theory. This was 1850 something. A long time ago anyway.
To put it simply, the Galapagos Islands is THE only place in the planet to see these species in their own environments without the interference of humans. A visit to the Galapagos Islands is a singular privelige that is one of the most amazing and special things you can do in your life.
We are visiting 8 of the islands on our 8 day trip and are very fortunate to be visiting the islands of Isabella and Fernandina which are the two most active islands (and the newest) in the area. Most tours do not visit these islands as they are so far away.
We have 8 days in this natural wonderland, and it is something Rob has been looking forward to for 10 years and about the same for me.
We are very lucky to be here.
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