Galapagos Islands, Pacific Ocean

The equator cuts through the very north end of the largest of the Galapagos Islands, pictured here in a Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from May 16, 2003. These tropical islands are located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ecuador, and their volcanic origin is revealed by the remains of dark brown lava flows visible along many of the islands´ coasts. The biggest island is Isla Isabela, with Isla Fernandina to the west and Isla San Salvador to the east. To the southeast of San Salvador is Isla Santa Cruz, with the much smaller Isla Santa Maria to the south. The easternmost island is Isla Cristobal, with Isla Espanola to its southwest. Several other smaller islands are part of this chain, famous for the insights the islands´ unique flora and fauna provided to the naturalist Charles Darwin as he developed his theory of evolution by natural selection.

Por Mapas Owje