In modern science the word ‘Galapagos’ is unequivocally linked with the name ‘Charles Darwin’. Darwin’s expedition to the Ecuadorian islands in 1835 had a critical impact on his formation on the Theory of Natural Selection.
The 22-year-old Charles Darwin was a failing and unmotivated medical scholar, so when he chose to accompany Captain Robert Fitzroy as a travel companion on the five-year voyage of the HMS Beagle he had no idea of the revolutionary scientific research the cruise would provide for him. Darwin’s book, ‘The Voyage of the Beagle’ provides an account of the naturalist’s worldwide journey. Years later, many holidaymakers follow in the footsteps of the scientist, embarking on their own Galapagos cruise
The HMS Beagle departed England from Plymouth in the December of 1831, but did not reach the Galapagos Islands until 4 years later in 1835 after surveying the coast of South America. However, Darwin’s discovery of the Theory of Evolution was as much an accident as Fleming’s discovery of Penicillin.
Quite by chance, Darwin observed that some of the unique creatures that inhabit the Galapagos Islands were similar on each of the islands he visited, but were adapted to their individual environments. The most famous example of this is Darwin’s finches. The finches, though largely similar, had evolved to perfectly survive on each island. This was particularly observable in the birds’ beaks which were longer, sharper, fatter etc. according to the demands of the environment in which the finches were found. The fifteen subspecies of finch indigenous to the Galapagos have since been named after Darwin in honour of his discovery.
This revelation provided the basis for Darwin’s famous theories of Evolution and Natural Selection. He deduced from his observation of the Galapagos finches that they were all descendants of a common ancestor, sharing the same lineage.
Twenty-four years after his initial discovery, Darwin finally consolidated his theories and observations derived from the finches on the Galapagos into his internationally revered book ‘The Origin of Species’ which provided a controversial and revolutionary change to the scientific view on the origins of life.
Charles Darwin’s discovery on the Galapagos Islands is arguably one of the most insightful biological revelations of the modern science, placing Darwin in the leagues of Isaac Newton, Alexander Fleming and Albert Einstein as one of the greatest scientific minds of his time.
Seeing Darwin’s islands for yourself
Visitors to the islands today can get closer to Darwin’s work at the Charles Darwin research centre, a national park information centre with a museum explaining his studies and the discoveries that followed. It brings to life how the varied finches, each with a beak suited to the food on its own island, shaped his thinking.
The centre also has a baby tortoise house with incubators, where you might be lucky enough to watch a newly hatched tortoise emerge from its egg. The giant tortoises are among the most famous residents of the archipelago, and seeing them close up is a highlight for many families.
Travelling between the islands lets you see how their wildlife differs from one to the next, just as Darwin noticed. Taking your time at the research centre adds real meaning to what you see in the wild.
Why the islands are a World Heritage Site
The Galapagos Islands have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978, a notable status because natural sites are far rarer on the list than cultural ones. The 19 main islands lie about 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific and have been called a living museum.
The waters around them form a marine reserve, and the abundance of life there is part of the reason for the listing. Divers can encounter hammerhead sharks, marine iguanas, sea turtles and a number of whales and dolphins. Deep below the sea floor, the Pacific, Cocos and Nazca tectonic plates meet, which keeps these young islands geologically active and constantly changing.
For such a young island group, the number of species is remarkable. The same diversity of plants and animals that caught Darwin’s attention still makes the islands one of the best places on Earth to see first hand how habitat shapes evolution.
