WORLD HERITAGE SITE: ECUADOR
WORLD HERITAGE SITE: ECUADOR
The Galapagos Islands area situated in the Pacific Ocean some 1,000 km from the Ecuadorian coast. Ongoing seismic and volcanic activity reflects the processes that formed the islands.
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The Galapagos Islands area situated in the Pacific Ocean some 1,000 km from the Ecuadorian coast. Its geographical location at the confluence of three ocean currents makes it one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world. Ongoing seismic and volcanic activity reflects the processes that formed the islands.
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The islands have relatively high species diversity for such young oceanic islands and contain emblematic creatures such as giant tortoises and land iguanas.
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The Islands’ location, together with the extreme isolation of the islands, led to the development of unusual plant and animal life – such as marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, giant tortoises, huge cacti, endemic trees and the many different subspecies of mockingbirds and finches – all of which inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection following his visit in 1835.
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The main threats to the Galapagos are the introduction of invasive species, increased tourism, demographic growth, illegal fishing and governance issues. We monitor and minimize these threats daily.
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No other site in the world can offer the experience of diving with such a diversity of marine life forms that are so familiar with human beings, that they accompany divers frequently.
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