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"Wonders of the World"
Seven Wonders of the Underwater World – The Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands, in the Pacific Ocean, more than 900 kilometers west of Ecuador, belong to Ecuador. Located at the confluence of the eastern Pacific Ocean and three major ocean currents, it is home to rare animals and plants such as giant tortoises, and is known as a "living museum of biological evolution" and a "melting pot of marine life". In 1978, it was declared a "World Natural Heritage Site" by UNESCO.
The waters of the Galapagos are home to four currents: the Peruvian Current from the South, the Equatorial Current from the West, the Northern Equatorial Current and the Panamanian Current. Driven by these four currents, fish and invertebrates from different seas can quickly find a habitat here. Among the many animals, sea lions are the most mischievous and whale sharks (Figures 4 and 5) are the largest. Galapagos endemic white-tailed hummingbirds and bullhead sharks, Galapagos penguins. The most unique animal in the archipelago is the iguana (Figures 6 and 7). It is the size of a ferret and has the most typical reptile characteristics.
There is also an endangered animal on the Galapagos Island, the tortoise (Figure VIII). Their living environment has been destroyed and they are facing the danger of survival. Scientists at the Darwin Research Centre are working to prepare for the introduction of tortoises under the right conditions to the wider remote areas of the archipelago for conservation. The Galapagos Islands were originally famous for their land tortoises weighing hundreds of kilograms. Thankfully, 750,000 species of birds still live on the archipelago.
Although the Galapagos Islands are home to many wonders, there is no single coral reef intact, replaced by magical underwater volcanic rocks. Its volcanic source is a unique sight – the Cerro Azul volcano on Isabela Island erupted again in 1998 after two decades of dormancy. Tourists and scientists visit the islands all year round.
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