Galapagos
The Galapagos islands are located
approximately 500 miles off the Ecuadorian
coast. Like Ecuador, the Galapagos straddle
the equator. Even so, you can find
penguins living on these scattered islands.
Most people know the Galapagos from Charles
Darwin and his voyage on the Beagle in 1835.
Before and after Darwin, the Galapagos
Islands were used by sailors to restock their
ships on the way across the Pacific, and by
governments to house their criminals. This
ended in 1959, when 97% of the islands were declared a
national reserve by
the Ecuadorian government.
The Galapagos islands are indeed unique and beautiful. Tourism allows outsiders to glimpse
the wonders that attract naturalists, photographers and scientists from all around the world.
Unfortunately, however, this same tourism may be the greatest threat to the islands and the
unique plants and animals they harbor. The great number of visitors brings with it an enormous
volume of garbage and pollution, leaving the government of Ecuador in a bind between protecting
their natural heritage and generating much-needed income for their economy.
The Galapagos Islands, therefore, remain today a popular but delicate destination for tourists.
