Straddling the equator, the Galapagos Islands are officially part of the nation of Ecuador and is a marine reserve and national park. About 25,000 people call the islands home on a full-time basis and Spanish is the official language that is spoken. Many people visit these volcanic islands every year to see animal species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world today.
1. Daylight Is Always The Same.
There is always 12 hours of sunlight and 12 hours of darkness at the Galapagos Islands. That’s because its position along the equator eliminates any seasonal tilt or shifting. This means the climate on the islands is stable all year long.
2. A Place Of Discovery.
Many are familiar with the Galapagos Islands because it is the place where Charles Darwin was inspired to create The Origin of Man. This work would become the foundation of the theory of evolution, helping to expand our ideas of how life exists and evolves to changing circumstances on our plant every day.
3. A Home For Penguins.
The Galapagos Islands are also unique for the fact that it is the only known location in the Northern Hemisphere where penguins regularly travel to breed. This is thanks to the cold waters of the Humboldt current, which brings water from deep depths to cool down the surrounding environment.
4. Plenty Of Swimming Lizards.
Although there are plenty of unique animals on the Galapagos Islands, the most unique might just be the marine iguana. It’s the only known lizard that forages in the sea. They look clumsy and awkward on land, but seem at one with the sea. Even Darwin noted that he was revolted by their appearance the first time he saw these lizards.
5. Home To The Largest Centipede Ever.
Although Scolopendra can be found in numerous locations around the world, in the Galapagos Islands they can grow to a size of 30 centimeters. These centipedes are active predators and are known to eat bats and rats. They’ll even attack humans and its bite can be rather painful because it is venomous, but it usually isn’t dangerous to humans.
The Galapagos Islands are one of the most fascinating ecosystems that exists in the world today. It is one of the few places on the planet that everyone should get to experience at least once in their lives.
