the Galápagos Islands
noun[plural]
uk/ɡəˈlæp.ə.ɡəs ˌaɪ.ləndz/us/ɡəˈlɑː.pə.ɡoʊs ˌaɪ.ləndz/(alsothe Galápagos)agroupofislandsin theeasternpartof theSouthPacificthat arepartof Ecuador. They are aUNESCOWorldHeritage Site:
Environmentalists said thespillhighlightedthefragilenatureof the Galápagossystem.
The Galápagos is one of twoplacesin theworldwheregianttortoisesexist.
- Buthumanbeingsareincreasinglyintrudingon the Galápagos’isolation.
- Some 65,000peoplevisitedthe Galápagos lastyear,creatingagrowingdemandforfuelthetankerJessica wascarrying.
- All 18speciesof Darwin'sfinchesderivedfrom asingleancestralspeciesthatcolonizedthe Galápagos about one to two millionyearsago.