Where are the Galapagos Islands?
The Galapagos Islands are located approximately 1,000 km (625 miles) off the coast of Ecuador. They are comprised of thirteen islands and over forty islets. Some 18,000 humans inhabit five of the islands (San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Isabela, Floreana, and Baltra), and 97% of the islands’ total area is designated as National Park land. San Cristobal Island, the easternmost island and home to the New Era Galapagos Foundation, has roughly 5,000 residents.
The “Enchanted Islands” of Galapagos are located 500 miles (800 kilometers) west of the Ecuadorian coast. The Galapagos archipelago is politically part of Ecuador. The oldest of the islands are about 4 million years old and the youngest are still in the process of being formed. Indeed, the Galapagos islands are considered to be one of the most active volcanic areas in the world.
The “Enchanted Islands” of Galapagos are found in the Pacific Ocean 600 miles west of Ecuador. Made famous by the studies of Charles Darwin that became his “Theory of Evolution,” the volcanic islands of Galapagos have been declared a National Park and its surrounding waters a Marine Reserve of Ecuador.
