The Galápagos Islands became one of the first UNESCO World Heritage properties inscribed in 1978 because of their unique species and evolutionary importance.
The volcanic archipelago lies about 1,000 kilometres west of mainland Ecuador. Its isolation, varied habitats, and ocean currents helped produce endemic animals such as giant tortoises, marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and several finch species.
Charles Darwin visited the islands in 1835 during the voyage of HMS Beagle. Observations of island-to-island variation later contributed to the development of his theory of evolution by natural selection, although the scientific theory draws on evidence from many places.
The property was expanded in 2001 to include the Galápagos Marine Reserve. The islands are not simply a single volcanic monument: they form a living laboratory of evolution with substantial terrestrial and marine biodiversity. Strict conservation rules address introduced species, tourism, fishing, and other pressures.