Galapagos (77 images)

Galapagos

In the footsteps of Darwin

In these Ecuadorian Pacific islands, second worldwide marine reservation protected by a national park, animal is king and man is just tolerated. Between cliffs, mangrove swamps and moonlike landscapes, go and meet an extraordinary fauna.
The Galapagos Islands are likely to benefit from increased exposure in 2009, celebrating two important anniversaries for Charles Darwin. As well as the 200th anniversary of his birth, 2009...
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Galapagos

In the footsteps of Darwin

In these Ecuadorian Pacific islands, second worldwide marine reservation protected by a national park, animal is king and man is just tolerated. Between cliffs, mangrove swamps and moonlike landscapes, go and meet an extraordinary fauna.
The Galapagos Islands are likely to benefit from increased exposure in 2009, celebrating two important anniversaries for Charles Darwin. As well as the 200th anniversary of his birth, 2009 is also the 150th anniversary of the publication of his seminal work, On the Origin of Species. Additionally, 2009 marks 50 years since the creation of the Galapagos National Park, Darwin's most famous research destination, while Ecuador will also celebrate the Bicentennial of its Independence

First, it is just a hoarse and hushing sigh. Then a heavy noise of crushed branches and mishandled rocks. A strange toothless head with big sad eyes appears from the bushes, followed by a heavy dome shaped carapace perched on elephant feet. The creature stays still, observes our little group and keeps on its walk through the trees covered by lichen. With its 250 kilos and its expectation of life of more than 150 years, the giant turtle is the uncontested "star" of the Galapagos, the mythic symbol of this archipelago appeared in the Pacific only five millions years ago.

And if one comes from the whole world to visit these volcanic islands lost at 1000 kilometers from Ecuador, it is for the Nature ! Since 1959, 97% of the archipelago is classified as a national park. And you would better be warned, here animal is king while man is just tolerated. Sea lions take a nap on the fishing boats anchored in front of the San Cristobal island or shamelessly lie on the towels of the swimmers on the beach of Gardner Bay. Iguanas have colonized any single rock and it becomes hard not to walk on them ! And blue-footed bobbies and the albatross of the Espanola island barefacedly eye tourists from head to foot.

Discovered in 1535 by the Spanish Thomas de Berlanga, lost on the road to Peru, the Galapagos will remain out of the history of men for a long time. Only the filibusters, the whaleboats and the sea lions hunters will dare sailing between these strange volcanic islands, separated from each other by dangerous streams. Several thousands of giant turtles are taken down in the hold of the ships to be used as fresh meat for sailors during the long sea crossings. Annexed in 1832 by Ecuador, the archipelago will only be colonized in 1870 by the first Ecuadorians, followed at the beginning of the 20th century by a few Europeans searching for adventure. Nowadays, about 20 000 "Galapaguenos" are living on five of the nineteen main islands.

Actually, it is the arrival of Charles Darwin, aboard the "Beagle" in 1835, that reveals the Galapagos to the Western world. During his journey, the young naturalist collects on three islands finches with very different beaks.
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