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Discovering Galapagos

Galapagos Conservation TrustGalapagos Conservation Trust

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  • Discovering Galapagos
  • Discover
    • Life on the Islands
      • Wildlife of Galapagos
        • Colonisation
        • Classification and Keys
        • Animals and Plants
        • Wildlife of Galapagos Quiz
      • Ecology and Habitats
        • Habitat Zones
        • Environmental Threats
        • Food Chains and Webs
        • Ecology and Habitats Quiz
        • Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health
      • Evolution and Genetics
        • Basic Concepts in Genetics
        • Charles Darwin and Natural Selection
        • Adapting to Environments
        • Evolution and Genetics Quiz
    • Geographical Processes
      • Location and Formation
        • Plate Tectonics
        • Hydrothermal Vents
        • Hot Spots and Volcanoes
        • Location and Formation Quiz
        • Rock Types
      • Oceanography
        • The Humboldt Current
        • Oceanography Quiz
        • Upwelling
      • Weather and Climate
        • Seasons in Galapagos
        • Climate Change
        • Currents and Climates
        • Weather and Climate Quiz
        • El Niño
      • A Special Archipelago
    • Human History
      • Exploring Galapagos
        • Discovery of Galapagos
        • Pirates and Whalers
      • Permanent Settlement
        • Early Settlers
        • A Floating Prison
        • Early Colonisation
      • Charles Darwin
        • Voyage of the Beagle
        • Origin of Species: Darwin’s Impact
      • Interactive Timeline
    • Sustainable Development
      • Sustainability Principles
        • What is Sustainability?
        • Environment, Society and Economics
        • A Sustainable Environment
        • A Future for Galapagos
        • A Sustainable Society
        • Sustainability Principles Quiz
        • A Sustainable Economy
      • Conservation and Sustainability
        • The Value of Biodiversity
        • Marine Conservation
        • The Case for Conservation
        • Conservation and Sustainability Quiz
        • Terrestrial Conservation
      • Sustainable Tourism
        • History of Tourism
        • Managing Ecotourism in Galapagos
        • The Impacts of Tourism
        • Sustainable Tourism Quiz
        • Principles of Ecotourism
      • A Sustainable Galapagos
        • Population Growth and Land Zoning
        • Renewable Energy
        • Construction and Development
        • A Sustainable Galapagos Quiz
        • Food, Water and Waste
    • Galapagos Conservation at Work
      • Tortoise Trackers
        • The Galapagos Giant Tortoise
        • Tortoise Tracking
        • Science in the Field
        • Tortoise Trackers Quiz
      • Penguin Protectors
        • The Galapagos Penguin
        • More Bird Monitoring
        • What issues do Galapagos penguins face?
        • Penguin Protectors Quiz
        • Penguin Monitoring
      • Galapagos Shark Zone
        • Spotlight on Sharks
        • Tracking Ocean Giants
        • Rediscovering Galapagos Bullhead Sharks
    • Glossary Hub
    • Species Hub
  • Evolution Zone
  • Teacher Zone
    • Teacher Zone
    • Discovering Galapagos at London Zoo
    • Tortoise Champions
    • Marine Iguana Magazine
  • Blog
  • About
    • Acknowledgements
    • Contact Us

Human History

Since the 1500s humans have been intrinsically linked to Galapagos and have been both a positive and negative influence on its environment and culture. From whalers and pirates to explorers and scientists, in this section you will learn how humans have impacted the Islands and their wildlife and how important they are at a global scale.

Galapagos Graphics: Engraving of a pirate named Bartholomew Roberts

Interactive Timeline »

Traverse through the fascinating history of the Galapagos Islands using our interactive timeline.

Galapagos People: William Beebe

Exploring Galapagos »

Since the official discovery of the Galapagos Islands in 1535, the Islands have had a multitude of interesting visitors; from the pirates who were looking to plunder the coastal towns of mainland South America to the prisoners who were sent to the Islands from the mainland as punishment.

Galapagos Places: Image of San Cristobal © Iris Diensthuber

Permanent Settlement »

The first settler on Galapagos, Patrick Watkins, arrived by accident in 1807. Since then, various people have called the islands home. 

Galapagos People: Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin »

Learn more about the voyage of the HMS Beagle and the resounding impact that Darwin’s discoveries had across the scientific world.

 
  • About the project
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  • Life on the Islands
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  • Discovering Antarctica, Discovering the Arctic & Discovering Darwin (our sister sites)

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