I’ve recently been a bit obsessed with the Galapagos Islands.  I’ve been watching a documentary about them and went back through all of my pictures from my trip.  I thought it would be fun to share some Galapagos Islands facts with you today.  If you want to read more fun facts, here are some about the US national parks.

1. Only 3% of the Galapagos Islands is not part of the national park

2. There are 20 islands, 42 islets, and over 250 rocks that make up the Galapagos Islands

3. The Galapagos Islands are the only place in the northern hemisphere you can see penguins in their natural habitat

4. There are 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness every day year-round

5. The oldest Galapagos tortoise on record live 152 years

6. Green Sea Turtles are believed to have walked the beaches with dinosaurs

7. The Galapagos Islands are formed at the meeting of three tectonic plates: the Pacific, Cocos, and Nazca

8. There are 800 species of mollusks and fish

9. The Galapagos Islands are named after the shape of the tortoise shells that look like horse riding saddles

10. The oldest islands are gradually sinking back into the ocean, but the younger ones are still growing

11. Half of the land species and one-fifth of the marine species are endemic (native) to the Galapagos Islands

12. The Galapagos Islands are about 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador

13. The Galapagos marine iguana is the only lizard in the world that can swim

14. The Galapagos is also home to the only cormorant that can’t fly

15. Espanola is the oldest island in the Galapagos at 3.5 to 4 million years old while the youngest is Fernandina at around 1 million

16. The first post office on the Galapagos Islands was a barrel for whalers passing by on Floreana

17. You can still send mail from Post Office Bay on Floreana by dropping off a letter without a stamp and taking a letter with you that is directed towards where you live

18. Galapagos sharks can grow up to ten feet long and when the pups are born, they flee to shallow water to gain strength and avoid being eaten by their parents

19. The Galapagos Islands became the first UNESCO Worl Heritage Site in 1978

20. They were also the first national park in Ecuador

21. About 25,000 people live on the Galapagos Islands, most on Santa Cruz

22. The Giant Galapagos tortoises can survive months without food or water

23. There are seven different species of lava lizards

24. There are three types of boobies on the Galapagos Islands: blue-footed, red-footed, and Nazca

25. There is a snorkeling site with a completely submerged volcano with underwater lava tunnels called Devil’s Crown

26. The only endemic land mammals are rice rats and two species of bats

27. Sierra Negra is the second largest caldera in the world after Yellowstone

28. The Galapagos Islands were formed by volcanic activity and have never touched the continent

29. The Galapagos are home to 600 endemic plant species

30. There are red, gold, white, green, black, and pink sand beaches in the Galapagos

Have you been to the Galapagos Islands?  Do you want to go?  Which fact is your favorite?  What do you want to see most there?