The Galapagos Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean, about 1000 kilometers from the coast of South America. They are volcanic in origin and are home to a variety of unique plants and animals. The climate of the Galapagos is varied, with some areas being quite hot and others being quite cool.
The Galapagos were first discovered by Europeans in 1535 and were named after the Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro. The Islands were inhabited by a variety of Native American peoples prior to the arrival of the Europeans.
Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands in 1835 as part of his around-the-world voyage on the HMS Beagle. Darwin was fascinated by the variety of plants and animals he saw on the Islands and how they differed from those he had seen in other parts of the world.
Darwin’s observations and collections from the Galapagos played a key role in his development of the theory of evolution.
The Galapagos Islands are now a popular tourist destination and are also home to a variety of scientific research stations
