The Galápagos Islands from space
Earth.com staff writer
Today’s Video of the Day from the European Space Agency features the Galápagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. This region is one of the most famous places on the planet for viewing wildlife.
The Galápagos Islands are home to many endemic species, native plants and animals that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, including giant tortoises and sea lions.
When Charles Darwin visited the islands in 1835, his wildlife observations inspired the theory of evolution by natural selection. In 1959, the Ecuadorian government made the entire archipelago a national park to protect its unique diversity.
The archipelago is made up of 13 major islands and several smaller islands and islets across 60,000 square kilometers of ocean. According to the ESA, repeated volcanic eruptions and ongoing seismic activity have helped form the rugged mountain landscape of the islands.
The largest of the Galapagos Islands, Isabela, was formed when multiple large volcanoes merged into one single land mass.
Video Credit: European Space Agency
–—
By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer
Find more related articles
Featured Videos CategoryNature Category
