South America, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Espanola Island. Galapagos Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) share the beach with a sunbather at Gardener Bay. Hugh Rose / DanitaDelimont.com "Danita Delimont Photography"/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: ddpphotos199107.
Visiting the Galapagos Islands (named for their famous giant tortoises) has been a dream of mine for a very long time. The islands are famous as the location where Charles Darwin discovered the many finches with specialized beaks that led to the birth of the theory of evolution. Aside from finches there are many more species of wildlife, most of them found only in the Galapagos. And because the animals have no natural predators, they haven’t learned to be afraid of humans. This means that its possible to walk right up to blue-footed booby without them running away.
Because of the tameness of the animals, they were very vulnerable to early sailors who came to the islands. The sailors hunted many species of giant tortoise to extinction or near extinction. But now 95% of the islands are a strictly protected area. Personally, I think this is awesome, but it does make visiting the area rather difficult. Every group of tourists must be accompanied by a guide, and each group is restricted in size. Their travel itineraries have to be approved beforehand and when touring the area everyone must stay on the paths. It might sound like a lot of rules, but without them the island would be overrun with people destroying all the natural beauty and wildlife.
It probably is a lot of work to plan a trip to the Galapagos, but I think it would be completely worth it. But until I have enough money and time to go there, I will just have to content myself with looking at these fabulous pictures of the islands.
Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador - A whimbrel stands on black lava rock wile cruising the shore for food on Isabela island. dZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: zumawireworldphotostwo438916.
Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador - Black lava rock is silhouetted against the beach as dawn began to emerge over Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island, Galapagos on 6/21/09. dZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: zumawirewestphotostwo584687.
Schools of Golden Rays. ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: zumakonaworld025038.
Land iguanas rest on rocks at the Galapagos National Park on Santa Cruz Island September 15, 2008. GUILLERMO GRANJA/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: rtrlthree057395.
Hermit crab, Galapagos National Park, Ecuador. Raymond Klass Danita Delimont Photography/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: ddpphotos333400.
Galapagos Giant Tortoises (Geochelone elephantophus vandenburghi) Alcedo Volcano crater floor, Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Pete Oxford / DanitaDelimont.com "Danita Delimont Photography"/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: ddpphotos202596.
Galapagos sealion (Zalophus wollebaeki). swimming in Fur seal grotto, Santiago (James) Island. Galapagos Islands. ECUADOR. South America. Pete Oxford / DanitaDelimont.com "Danita Delimont Photography"/Newscom. FInd it at Newscom.com: ddpphotos202265.
Blue-footed booby Isla Espanola, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, South America. Michael DeFreitas / DanitaDelimont.com "Danita Delimont Photography"/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: ddpphotos200727.
Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador - A marine iguana emerged from it's overnight resting place to warm up in the morning sun on Isabela Isaland near Puerto Villamil. dZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: zumawireworldphotostwo438922.
See more pictures of the Galapagos in our collection back at Newscom.
You might enjoy these other travel blogs:
Around the World: Cabo San Lucas
Around the World: Westland National Park