What We're Reading: Edward

Galapagos: preserving Darwin's legacy

by Tui de Roy and Sarah Darwin

For the Galapagos, 2009 was a banner year. It marked the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, the 150th anniversary of his publication of "On the Origin of Species", and the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Galapagos National Park and the International Charles Darwin Foundation. Now the National Park covers 97 percent of the land area of the islands. This book is really a festschrift. It consists of 28 chapters that each describe an aspect of the Galapagos ecosystem. Everything from the forces that created the islands, its landforms, climate, flora, and fauna are covered. Some of the articles are technical, but the lavish photography keeps the reader engrossed. A must read for the armchair traveler!