Now, Darwin was not the first to land on this group of islands, but rather was the first to document in-depth analysis on everything from animals , plants, habitat and climate. . The majesty of the landscape described by Darwin has no equivalent in any other landscape known to humanity, even today. “Dark Imps” that emerge from the depths of the sea, giant turtles whose size is incomparable to that of European turtles and specimens of finches. natives of their own respective island are examples of Charles Darwin's analysis of his first encounter with the Galapagos archipelago. Countless years have passed since those fateful days when Darwin resided in the Galapagos, but was Darwin true to his description? What has changed since then? What new discoveries were made during Darwin's analytical visit? Over the centuries, ancient castaways, pirates, conquistadors and scientists discovered the enchanted islands before Darwin, and their tales of the mysterious Galápagos gave way to myths. With fantastical creatures that could not be found anywhere else in the world, the mystery of the islands led to more curious expeditions. Popularity began to surround the islands when the Spanish and British governments began commissioning expeditions to the Galapagos in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This era could easily be compared to the "Caifornia gold rush of the 1850s" (Hickman, 61), because the islands were quickly frequented by ships which would reduce the populations of many turtles and whales present there and in the surrounding waters. Travelers would arrive on the island group to take these rare animals to the elite, making the meat and soap available for profit. After the "gold rush", this...... middle of paper ......rabid tourist aware and attentive to witness the singular beauty of the Galapagos.Works Cited “Marine Iguanas of the Galapagos Islands – BBC Wildlife. » Youtube. Google, 2008. Web. May 18. 2011. Darwin, Charles. On evolution. Ed. Thomas F. Glick and David Kohn. Illinois: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 1996. Print. Heinzel, Hermann and Barnaby Hall. Galapagos Journal. California: Christopher Helm Ltd.-A&C Black Ltd., 2000. Print. Hickman, John. The enchanted islands The Galapagos discovered. New Hampshire: Tanager Books-Longwood Publishing, 1985. Print.Larson, Workshop of Edward J. Evolution. New York: Basic Books, 2001. Print. Lowenberg, Bret James. Darwin, Wallace and the theory of natural selection. New Jersey: New Haven Press, 1957. PrintStewart, Paul D. et al. Galapagos The islands that changed the world. London: BBC Books, 2006. Print