The Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. They belong to the country of Ecuador. These islands are famous for their special animals. Many of these animals live nowhere else on Earth.

Amazing Animals

Giant tortoises that live more than 100 years crawl on the islands. Marine iguanas swim in the sea to eat seaweed. Blue-footed boobies dance to find a mate. Sea lions sleep right on the beaches.

A sleepy sea lion rests on a Galapagos beach.
A sleepy sea lion rests on a Galapagos beach. (Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons)

Charles Darwin

A scientist named Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos in 1835. He saw that animals on different islands had slight differences. This helped him come up with the idea of evolution. His ideas changed the way we think about living things.

Fun Facts

  • Some giant tortoises weigh more than 500 pounds.
  • The Galapagos has the only penguins that live north of the equator.
  • The islands were formed by volcanoes under the sea.

Did You Know?

The Galapagos Islands are a national park, and visitors must follow strict rules to protect the animals.