The History of the Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands have had a rich history since their discovery by Tomas de Berlanga in 1535. The chain of 19 islands and myriad rocks in the Pacific was studied in-depth by Charles Darwin but left relatively untouched until the 20th century. The fertile natural environment and secluded location of the Galapagos Islands made this province of Ecuador a tourist attraction for travelers throughout the 20th century.
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Discovery
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The first Western explorer to reach the Galapagos Islands was Tamas de Berlanga on March 10, 1535. De Berlanga was diverted from his original trip to Peru by strong Pacific winds. The Galapagos Islands would be visited in 1593 by English sailor Richard Hawkins, representing the first landing by an English-speaking crew. Captain John Cook and his ship, the Batchelor's Delight, was one of the first pirates to use the Galapagos Islands as a resting spot in 1683.
Scientific Research in the Galapagos
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British naturalist James Colnett studied the foliage and wildlife of the Galapagos in 1793, opening the island chain to future scientific expeditions. Charles Darwin's "Origin of Species" was influenced heavily by his 1835 visit to the Galapagos Islands. The writer and scientist observed hummingbirds, finches and tortoises and discovered differences among these species on each island. The Academy of Sciences of California sent expeditions in 1904 and 1932 to collect samples of plant and animal life for further study.
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Relations with Ecuador
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The Galapagos Islands has been part of Ecuador's holdings since the early 19th century. Ecuador annexed the Galapagos Islands on February 12, 1832 without much difficulty, due to the absence of substantial settlements and native groups. This annexation allowed Ecuador to act as a steward over the chain's famed flora and fauna. The Galapagos Islands became a province of Ecuador on February 18, 1973 and remains under Ecuadorian rule in 2009.
The Galapagos in the Interwar Period
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European and American influences on the Galapagos Islands were strongest between World War I and World War II. The Panama Canal opened in 1914, offering a quick route for sea travel from Europe and the Caribbean. The Galapagos Islands remained sparsely settled through the 1930s though communities of German, Spanish and Swedish residents could be found. The United States built a temporary Air Force base on Baltra Island in 1942 to aid its naval campaign against the Empire of Japan in World War II.
Conservation of the Galapagos
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The Galapagos Islands was turned into a national park by Ecuador in 1937. The Ecuadorian government along with officials in the Galapagos were concerned that increasing tourism in the 1950s would harm flora and fauna. Local naturalists created the Charles Darwin Foundation in 1959 with the sole purpose of protecting the very species observed by the foundation's namesake. UNICEF bestowed its initial World Heritage Site designation to the Galapagos Islands in 1978.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Photo by Simon Wakefield (Flickr)
