The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands located far off the coast of Ecuador. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its abundance of unique wildlife and picturesque coastal landscapes. These amazing Islands are located 1000 km away from the Ecuadorian coastline and are the most visited destination in Ecuador, being the vast majority, tourists coming from abroad.The Galápagos Islands have been specially known and promoted due to the fact that It was here that Charles Darwin developed part of his famous theory of evolution by natural selection. “Natural selection is that the strongest survive and propagate and therefore increase the strength of the species.” In 1978 UNESCO recognized the islands as a World Heritage Site, and in 1985 a Biosphere Reserve. In 2007 the islands were put on the UNESCO World in Danger List. (Wikipedia, 2008). These islands are in threat by the non native plants and animals growing population of humans.
The Galapagos Islands are well known for their various native breeds of animals. These different breeds of animals cannot be found anywhere else in the world. One of the animals that are not found anywhere else is the Marine Iguanas is known for its unique ability to swim in the sea. It is typically found on the rocky shorelines basking in the sun, heating its body temperature after a swim. These are the only sea-going lizards in the world and they will often wear distinctive white wigs of salt which are expelled from glands near their noses. One of the theories as to why these creatures are of unique existence to the Galapagos Islands is that they were originally land lizards that came to the islands on driftwood and then evolved to continue living in the sea. Another theory is that the Marine Iguanas are the last remaining descendants of a species of sea lizards that are now extinct in the rest of the world. Many scuba divers that visit the Galapagos Islands observe the vast array of marine life that is found there. The underwater world is just as remarkable. Swimming amongst schools of bright yellow and blue fish is an extraordinary experience, especially when the school surrounds you! And you can swimming with playful sea lions is both frightening and exhilarating, especially when they dart straight at you at top speeds, only to turn away within inches of your face! and the secluded, untouched beaches are perfect with crystal clear waters and lush green landscapes. It’s one of those truly special places where you really are all alone on an uninhabited island. This island also is the home of many diverse endemic plants and animal cannot be found anywhere else in the world. If you want to visit this island attractions. You will need to plan and prepare, along with several islands, such as when is the best time to visit the Galapagos? The Galapagos is a place that can be visited at any time. There are two seasons. the warmest is between December to May when the sky is always clear and the sun shines strongly. If you love to dive, the best time to visit is between June and November because the temperatures are a bit cooler, and you will have a better chance to observe the Galapagos’ famous marine life. But, For one thing, tourists pollute the air and water of the Galapagos Islands in many ways. Imagine leaving your house, and to get somewhere, what do you need? You need transportation. Inevitably, the tourists of the Galapagos Islands would need some form of transportation: boats, cars, planes. All of these vehicles use some sort of fuel, which then releases carbon dioxide. Therefore, the air quality lessens. Next, some visitors litter on the floor and beaches. Not only that, but tourists also litter in waterways and natural lands. If some of this trash were to be carried into the water, animals could accidentally eat it, mistake it as food, or even get entangled by it, it would then get choked. Tourism in the Galapagos Islands would allow this to continue, and the water and air of the Galapagos Islands would eventually become inhabitable at this rate.
For many years careless tour operators and even more careless tourists put the unique biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands in jeopardy. This situation is changing, however, as activists,The Ecuadorian government, and responsible tour operators have sought to protect and sustain the area. All visitors are required to cooperate to ensure the island is a wonderful thing for a long time.