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Galápagos Islands Ecuador   Galápagos Islands © UNESCO / Francesco Bandarin Situated in the Pacific Ocean some 1,000 km from the South American continent, these 19 islands and the surrounding marine reserve have been called a unique ‘living museum and showcase of evolution’. Located at the confluence of three ocean currents, the Galápagos are a ‘melting pot’ of marine species. Ongoing seismic and volcanic activity reflects the processes that formed the islands. These processes, together with the extreme isolation of the islands, led to the development of unusual animal life – such as the land iguana, the giant tortoise and the many types of finch – that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection following his visit in 1835. More details Ref:1bisYear inscribed1978 Extension2001Criteria(vii)(viii)(ix)(x)Core zone14066514.0000 Ha Copyright © 1992-2010 UNESCO World Heritage Centre, All Rights Reserved Terms / Policies