Galápagos: The Islands That Changed the World

The first complete guide to the dramatic environment, the wild inhabitants, and the human history of the enchanting Gal pagos

Rocky, fragile, beautiful, strange--the Gal pagos archipelago is unlike any other place on earth. Its geology, its unique flora and fauna, and its striking role in human history intersect in surprising and dynamic ways. This book is the most wide-ranging and beautifully illustrated book available on the famous islands. Not since Darwin's Naturalist's Voyage has a book combined so much scientific and historic information with firsthand accounts that bring the Gal pagos to life.
Gal pagos: The Islands That Changed the World describes how tragedy and murderous pirates curtailed settlement of the islands and how the islands' pristine nature, spectacular geology, and defining isolation inspired Darwin's ideas about evolution. The book explores the diverse land and marine habitats that shelter Gal pagos species and considers the islands' importance today as a frontier for science and a refuge for true wilderness. The book's extensive gazetteer provides details about endemic plants and animals as well as travel advice about visitors' sites, diving, photography, when to go, and what to take. Vividly illustrated throughout, this guide is an indispensable reference for natural history enthusiasts, armchair travelers, and island visitors alike.

Author: Paul D. Stewart
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 02/28/2007
Pages: 240
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.71lbs
Size: 9.74h x 7.56w x 0.57d
ISBN: 9780300122305


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 02/15/2007 pg. 21
Science Books & Films 05/01/2007 pg. 110
New York Review of Books 10/23/2008 pg. 34

About the Author
Paul D. Stewart has published extensively in leading science and conservation journals. He has produced and filmed many award-winning documentaries for the BBC's Natural History Unit. Godfrey Merlen, a thirty-year resident of the Galápagos, works with the National Park Service and is director of the Wildaid Foundation. Patrick Morris is an award-winning wildlife documentary maker and the series producer of Galápagos. Andrew Murray is producer of the second episode of the Galápagos series and works with the BBC's Natural History Unit. Joe Stevens works for the BBC's Natural History Unit. Richard Wollocombe, one of the first dive guides in the Galápagos, is a naturalist guide and filmmaker in South America.