F A C T S & P H O T O S O F T H E G A L A P A G O S
The Galapagos islands are located off the west coast of Ecuador, in the Pacific Ocean. There are six larger and several smaller islands lying on or near the equator. These islands were formed by volcanoes, some which are still active. The shorelines are level with the land rising to high mountains with craters in the center. | 
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| The islands are well noted for its diverse animals and plants. Part of the Galapagos is a wildlife sanctuary and is home to six species of giant tortoise and two species of large lizards. There are more than 85 different species of birds including Galapagos penguins. The islands was explored in 1535 by the Spanish. During 1835 Charles Darwin spent six weeks studying the variety of animal life of the island. |
The beaches of the islands receive adequate rainfall for the mangroves that grow. Farther inland there is little rainfall. Thorn trees, cactus, and mesquite grow inland. In the uplands, which has heavy mist in the mornings, there is more plant life. The climate and the temperature of the waters surrounding the islands are cooled by the cold Humboldt Current from the Antarctic. | 
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