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History of National Park:
1934 First protective laws passed in Ecuador.
1959 All islands declared National Park
1959 Charles Darwin Foundation created with headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
1964 Charles Darwin Research Station inaugurated.
1968 National Park Service began working under auspices of Ministry of Agriculture.
1969 Organized Tourism began.
1986 Marine area declared National Reserve
The Galapagos Islands, also known as Los Encantadas (The Enchanted Isles) first appeared on the map Ortelius in 1570. Now a National Park, the islands are an awesome display of a volcanic chain's introduction and inhabitation.
The islands host numerous endemic plants and animals. Charles Darwin's famous finch research was a result of his visit to the islands. There he found different species of finches which had developed over time into their own niche on the islands
Just below the surface of the Galapagos waters, lies another treat. Marine life is making a return in the the now protected waters. Yet, most interesting is to examine the diversity brought by the cold waters of the Humboldt current sweeping past the cactus covered islands.
