![]() ![]() The existing Galapagos Islands were formed between 700,000 and 5,000,000 years ago, making them geologically young.Pinta Island is the northernmost of the larger islands and is relatively isolated from the rest of the archipelago. ![]() A geologic study published in 1992 suggested that underwater seamounts near the Galapagos had formed islands between 5,000,000 and 9,000,000 years ago this helped explain the great amount of endemic speciation, which many biologists believe could not have occurred in a lesser amount of time. In addition, penguins and fur seals live on the islands side by side with tropical animals. Another species of interest is the flightless cormorant. The swimming marine iguanas, which feed on seaweed and in some places cover the coastal rocks by the hundreds, are unique and endemic. Galapagos finches, for example, have developed a multitude of adaptive types from one common ancestral type their subspecies now differ mainly in beak shape and size. Because of subsequent evolutionary adaptations, an amazing range of subspecies are found on the islands today. The close affinities of Galapagos animals to the fauna of South and Central America indicate that most of the islands’ species originated there. Its giant tortoises are thought to have some of the longest life spans (up to 150 years) of any creature on Earth. The archipelago is renowned for its unusual animal life. Observe flightless cormorants in their natural habitat on coasts of Fernandina and Isabela islands See all videos for this article The Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz (Indefatigable) Island promotes scientific studies and protects the indigenous vegetation and animal life of the Galapagos. In 1978 the islands were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, and in 1986 the Galapagos Marine Resources Reserve was created to protect the surrounding waters. The government of Ecuador designated part of the Galapagos a wildlife sanctuary in 1935, and in 1959 the sanctuary became the Galapagos National Park. Their total land area of 3,093 square miles (8,010 square km) is scattered over 23,000 square miles (59,500 square km) of ocean. The Galapagos consist of 13 major islands (ranging in area from 5.4 to 1,771 square miles ), 6 smaller islands, and scores of islets and rocks lying athwart the Equator 600 miles (1,000 km) west of the mainland of Ecuador. Galapagos Islands, Spanish Islas Galápagos, officially Archipiélago de Colón (“Columbus Archipelago”), island group of the eastern Pacific Ocean, administratively a province of Ecuador. ![]() SpaceNext50 Britannica presents SpaceNext50, From the race to the Moon to space stewardship, we explore a wide range of subjects that feed our curiosity about space!.Learn about the major environmental problems facing our planet and what can be done about them! Saving Earth Britannica Presents Earth’s To-Do List for the 21st Century.100 Women Britannica celebrates the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment, highlighting suffragists and history-making politicians.COVID-19 Portal While this global health crisis continues to evolve, it can be useful to look to past pandemics to better understand how to respond today.Student Portal Britannica is the ultimate student resource for key school subjects like history, government, literature, and more.This Time in History In these videos, find out what happened this month (or any month!) in history.#WTFact Videos In #WTFact Britannica shares some of the most bizarre facts we can find.Demystified Videos In Demystified, Britannica has all the answers to your burning questions.Britannica Classics Check out these retro videos from Encyclopedia Britannica’s archives.Britannica Explains In these videos, Britannica explains a variety of topics and answers frequently asked questions.
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