世界遺產補充-加拉巴戈群島

Situated in the Pacific Ocean some 1,000 km from the South American continent, these neneteen islands and the surrounding marine reserve have been called a unique 'living museum and showcase of evolution'. Located at the confluence of three ocean currents, the Galapagos are a 'melting pot' of marine species. Ongoing seismic and volcanic activity reflect the processes that formed the islands. These processes, together with the extreme isolation of the islands, led to the development of unusual animal life ? such as the land iguana, the giant tortoise and the many types of finch ? that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution following his visit in 1835.
座落於太平洋上、離南美大陸約1000公里處的加拉巴戈群島，其19座的島嶼與周圍的海洋保護地被稱為一「活的生物演化博物館」。地處三股洋流交會處的島群蘊孕了種類繁多的海洋生物，持續不斷地火山活動及地震亦呈現了島群演進歷程。這樣的過程及其與外界隔絕的地理環境，造就了獨特的動物生命體。如伊瓜納大蜥蜴、巨大陸龜及多種類的織布鳥－這些生命體啟發了於1853年造訪此地的生物學家達爾文其演化論之靈感。