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[[Image:Blue-footed booby.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Blue-footed booby]]The '''Galápagos Islands''' is an [[archipelago]] of 17 volcanic islands, situated in the [[Pacific Ocean]] 600 miles to the west of [[Ecuador]]. They are noted for their unique animal and bird life which led the naturalist [[Charles Darwin]] to formulate his [[Theory of Natural Selection]]. The name ''Galápagos'' derives from the [[Spain|Spanish]] word for saddle, as the shape of some of the indigenous species of [[tortoise]] resembled a saddle.
[[Image:Blue-footed booby.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Blue-footed booby]]The '''Galápagos Islands''' is an [[archipelago]] of 17 volcanic islands, situated in the [[Pacific Ocean]] 600 miles to the west of [[Ecuador]]. They are noted for their unique animal and bird life which led the naturalist [[Charles Darwin]] to formulate his [[Theory of Natural Selection]]. The name ''Galápagos'' derives from the [[Spain|Spanish]] word for saddle, as the shape of some of the indigenous species of [[tortoise]] resembled a saddle. The official name of the islands is Archipiélago de Colón but even official government dcuments refer to them as the Galapagos Islands.
Their remote location meant that the islands had few visitors and almost all of the animals exhibit no natural fear of man. However, a rising population, the presence of feral pigs and goats, and the pressures of mass tourism have begun to threaten the existence of some species. On April 10, 2007 Rafael Correa Delgado the President of Ecuador issued an emergency decree<ref>[http://www.galapagos.org/news/04_2007_Decree.html] Presidential decree 4/10/2007</ref> calling for sustainable development.
Their remote location meant that the islands had few visitors and almost all of the animals exhibit no natural fear of man. However, a rising population, the presence of feral pigs and goats, and the pressures of mass tourism have begun to threaten the existence of some species. On April 10, 2007 Rafael Correa Delgado the President of Ecuador issued an emergency decree<ref>[http://www.galapagos.org/news/04_2007_Decree.html] Presidential decree 4/10/2007</ref> calling for sustainable development.
The Galápagos Islands are a [[UNESCO]] World Heritage Site.<ref>[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list] UNESCO World Heritage List</ref>
The Galápagos Islands are a [[UNESCO]] World Heritage Site.<ref>[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list] UNESCO World Heritage List</ref>
30,000 people live in the archipelago on 4 of the islands. Most of these are fishermen and there have been many differences of opinion between them and the National Park with regards to overfishing. To date the Galapagos sea cumber and lobster have been rendered nearly extinct due to overfishing. There is a rising trend in the illegal fishing of Sharks for their fins in recent years.
==Geology==
==Geology==