GEOGRAPHY THROUGH MAPS
Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos are an Ecuadorian archipelago in the equatorial Pacific, roughly 1,000 km west of mainland Ecuador. Isolation and varied habitats have supported exceptional endemism.
Fast Facts
- Locate the islands offshore from Ecuador, not within the Caribbean.
- Hotspot volcanism built the islands on the moving Nazca Plate; the western islands are generally younger.
- Warm and cool water influences create diverse marine habitats and strong ecological contrasts.
Connected lessons
- Galápagos IslandsMap, explanation and practice
Geographical connections
- Humboldt CurrentRelated places
- Nazca PlateRelated places
- Rapa Nui / Easter IslandRelated places
- Kourou · Guiana Space CentreRelated places