Which archipelago lies about 600 miles west of Ecuador and was visited by Darwin?

• A. Galápagos
• B. Canary Islands
• C. Hawaiian Islands
• D. Azores

Answer: (A)

Islands that shaped Darwin's ideas about evolution illustrate how geographic isolation can drive the development of distinctive species. The Galápagos lie about 600 miles west of Ecuador in the Pacific, and Darwin visited them during the Beagle voyage. Observations of diverse, closely related animals—like the different beak shapes of Galápagos finches and variations among tortoises—helped him understand how species adapt to their environments over time.

The other archipelagos are in different regions and were not part of Darwin’s voyage: the Canary Islands are off northwest Africa, the Hawaiian Islands are far in the central Pacific, and the Azores are in the North Atlantic near Portugal. None of these match both the geographic clue and Darwin’s historical visit, making the Galápagos the best answer.