In Ecuador - The Galápagos Islands
Chapter I
Visiting the Giant Tortoises The Galápagos Islands sit peacefully in the Pacific Ocean, west of South America. They are part of the nation of Ecuador, but they are so isolated that there are plants, birds, and animals on these islands that are found nowhere else on earth. The islands host hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, who come to see the remarkable creatures there. The most famous animals in the Galápagos Islands are the giant tortoises. They are heavier than two adult men, and they are the first thing that most people know about the islands. The oldest written accounts of the islands mention the tortoises, and even the name, Galápagos, comes from the Spanish word for tortoise. Visitors to the islands all want to see one. In addition to the visitors, there are more than twenty thousand people who live on the islands. This story is about two of the little girls who live there. Gabriella is nine, and everyone calls her Gabi. Her little sister Lucia is three. If you went to the Galápagos Islands, you might meet a little girl walking along a flowery path. You might guess that was Gabi. If her little sister ran up to join her, you would know that was Lucia.
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