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Where are the Gal谩pagos Islands?

A globe showing the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

The Gal谩pagos Islands are an archipelago, or group of islands, that have been created by volcanoes. They are found in the Pacific Ocean, almost 1,000 km west from the coast of Ecuador in South America. The islands are at either side of the Equator, which means they are in both the Southern and the Northern Hemisphere.

A globe showing the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean.
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What animals and plants are on the Galapagos Islands?

Marine iguanas.
Image caption,
Marine iguanas.

The Gal谩pagos Islands are home to lots of different types of plants and animals.

They have some of the most unusual animals on the planet. For example, giant tortoises, marine iguanas and even the Gal谩pagos penguins.

A group of penguins near the sea in the Galapagos Islands
Image caption,
Gal谩pagos penguins.

On his visit to the islands in 1835, Charles Darwin noticed the slight differences between the same types of animal on each island. This helped him work out how they had adapted to their environment through a process called natural selection.

Today, tourists visit the islands to see the dramatic landscapes - volcanoes, beautiful coastlines and coral reefs - as well as the wildlife and plants.

A group of penguins near the sea in the Galapagos Islands
Image caption,
Gal谩pagos penguins.
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Watch: The Gal谩pagos Islands with Sue Venir

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What is rewilding?

Rewilding is when people leave sections of land alone so plants and animals can look after themselves. People can help out by creating the right conditions for wildlife to succeed. This can involve things like reintroducing species that have disappeared or repairing damaged ecosystems. On the island of Floreana in the Gal谩pagos Islands, 13 species have already become extinct locally.

Gal谩pagos Islands.
Image caption,
Gal谩pagos Islands.
A Floreana mockingbird.
Image caption,
A Floreana mockingbird.

Important actions are being taken by environmental charities to look after endangered animals in the Gal谩pagos and to protect the island's wildlife.

This work includes bringing back locally extinct animals such as the pink iguana, the Floreana giant tortoise and the Floreana mockingbird.

A Floreana mockingbird.
Image caption,
A Floreana mockingbird.
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Where do people live?

A cartoon of the Galapagos Islands from above.

People are only allowed to live in small areas of the islands because the wildlife and plants are protected.

This is part of the conservation plan for the islands and the ocean around them.

Other laws prevent things such as too much fishing, too many people living there or too many visitors.

This will hopefully protect the variety of plants and animals and the beauty of the islands for the future.

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Watch: What do the Gal谩pagos Islands look like?

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Activity: Quiz 鈥 Gal谩pagos Islands

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