Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands UNESCO World Heritage Site was first inscribed in 1978.
The Galápagos became one of the first places added to the World Heritage List, during the list’s inaugural year. The archipelago is internationally important for its exceptional biodiversity, high number of endemic species, and major role in Charles Darwin’s studies of natural selection.
The site consists of the islands and surrounding marine environment, rather than a single monument or archaeological ruin. Its protected landscapes include volcanoes, lava fields, coastal habitats, and habitats for species such as giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and flightless cormorants.
A common mix-up is confusing the World Heritage inscription date with the creation of Galápagos National Park. The national park was established earlier, in 1959, while the UNESCO designation came in 1978. UNESCO later extended the property to include the marine reserve in 2001, recognizing the ecological connection between land and sea.