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| The Galápagos Islands were formed over 5 million years ago by volcanic eruptions in the Pacific Ocean and have never been associated with the continents. As a result, life here has developed according to natural selection separately from the mainland. The only way for life to get to these islands was to swim, float or fly to them. There are NO land mammals and the usual predators are absent - so the wildlife here does not fear humans making it very easy to get up close and personal with them. The archipelago consists of 13 large islands, 6 small islands, and more than 40 tiny islets. 97% of the total land mass is designated National Park so that humans may visit but not live there! |
