The
Galapagos
Archipelago
is
one
of
Ecuador
’s
main
tourist
attractions
and
principle
area
of
scientific
interest.
Without
a
doubt,
the
Galapagos
Islands
are
the
most
famous
and
well-known
tourist
spot
in
the
country.
The
Galapagos
are
of
volcanic
origin
and
consist
of
three
main
islands,
six
smaller
islands,
and
42
small
baron
islands
or
quays.
Situated
towards
the
north
and
south
of
the
equatorial
line,
97
per
cent
of
the
total
surface
area
of
the
islands
constitutes
the
Galapagos
National
Park,
with
the
exception
of
the
inhabited
areas
of
Santa
Cruz,
San
Cristobal,
Isabela,
Floreana
and
also
Isla
Baltra,
where
the
Ecuadorian
Armed
Forces
have
been
stationed.
The
Galapagos
Islands
constitute
the
first
Ecuadorian
National
Park
,
which
was
established
in
1936
with
the
aim
of
conserving
its
flora,
fauna
and
outstanding
natural
beauty
of
the
landscape.
In
order
to
manage
the
area
more
efficiently
the
Galapagos
National
Park
Service
was
set
up
in
1959,
which
is
in
charge
of
coordinating
and
implementing
conservation
programs
and
running
the
islands.
In
the
same
year,
the
100
th
anniversary
of
the
publication
of
Charles
Darwin’s
book,
The
Origin
of
Species,
the
Charles
Darwin
Foundation
for
the
Galapagos
Islands
was
created,
sponsored
by
UNESCO
and
UICN
(the
World
Union
for
Nature
Conservation).
Five
years
later
the
operational
arm,
the
Charles
Darwin
Research
Station,
was
founded
in
Santa
Cruz
.
In
response
to
an
application
by
the
Ecuadorian
government,
the
United
Nations
Cultural
Heritage
Committee
awarded
the
Galapagos
status
as
a
World
Cultural
Heritage
Site.
Shortly
after,
in
1985,
the
islands
were
also
declared
a
Biosphere
Reserve.
The
Islands
emerged
from
the
depths
of
the
ocean
millions
of
years
ago
as
a
result
of
continuous
underwater
volcanic
eruptions,
which
pushed
huge
quantities
of
volcanic
material
to
the
surface
of
the
ocean.
On
several
of
the
many
islands
volcanoes
still
are
emerging
today,
Volcano
Wolf
being
the
most
important
at
around
1,707
metres
high.
The
activity
and
appearance
of
the
volcanoes
in
this
region
is
similar
to
that
in
Hawaii
,
where
volcanoes
are
characterised
by
wide
cones
and
enormous
craters.
Last
Updated
24th
July
2006
(DLW)
