a group of 13 islands of volcanic origin, in the North Pacific Ocean, about 600 mi. w. of the coast of Ecuador, to which they belong. The total area is 2400 square miles. The most important are Albemarle, 60 miles long by 15 broad, rising 4700 feet above the sea; Indefatigable, Chatham, Charles, James and Narborough. Turtles are very numerous and form the principal product of the islands. Sugar is grown, and cattle are raised to some extent. The islands were explored by Darwin in 1858, and they have been visited by many naturalists, because of the interesting animal and vegetable life found there. Many forms are peculiar to the islands, and there are almost no species in common with the rest of South America.