Travel Galapagos list the "Top 10 Interesting Facts of Galapagos" as follows:
1. Remoteness. There are almost no other islands off the western coast of South America and no easy means of rapid communication with the outside world.
2. Strong Currents. Many underpowered ships were carried from the central or South American coastal waters to the Galapagos
3. Inaccessibility. Despite the natural tendency of a boat to drift in the direction of the Galapagos, access to the islands has been for the most part tricky due to their remote location.
4. Tactical location. The Galapagos Islands are an ideally located supply port and lie directly in the entrance path of the Panama Canal. These facts were not lost on the major international powers
5. Dry Conditions. Many visitors arrived in search of water. Most of the early arrivals failed in this quest. A seemingly disproportionate number came to Floreana Island, due to the known water supply.
6. Safe Haven. The Galapagos was thought of and used as a haven by many. Most were disappointed with the reality of the harsh life.
7. Exploitation. The influence of man has brought several wildlife species, notably the giant tortoise, sperm whale, and fur seal, to the point of extinction.
8. Unprofitability. Repeated attempts at commercial use of the islands have met with failure. Tourism and modern day commercial fishing are proving to be the sole exceptions.
9. Surrealistic image. The islands have always been perceived as a blend of the angelic and demonic. Before the tourism industry referred to Las Islas Encantadas “The Enchanted Islands”, the correct translation and initial use of the expression meant “The Bewitched Islands”
10. The Galapagos Islands are often referred to as Darwin’s “living laboratory of evolution.”
