On 8th October 1835,
the survey ship HMS Beagle
anchored in this bay.
Onboard was Charles Darwin
and he and four companions
were put ashore
on this island for a week.
An island that he described
as both picturesque and curious.
In Darwin's day
it was called James Island.
Today it's known an Santiago.
At almost 600 square kilometres,
it's one of the larger islands
in the Galapagos.
Its highest point is 900 metres
above sea level.
On Santiago Darwin met two Spaniards
who were hard at work butchering
tortoises for their meat.
Together they had an uncomfortable
walk across this lava field.
Eventually they arrived
at this volcanic lake
where the Spaniards collected salt
to use as a preservative.
Darwin was fascinated
by local flora and fauna.
He described the Galapagos
as a world within itself,
full of creatures that were both
curious and remarkable.
The islands
were teeming with wildlife.
There were so many land iguanas,
for instance,
that Darwin found it difficult
to pitch his tent
without covering their burrows.
Today, there are none left
on Santiago.
In total Darwin spent five weeks
on the Galapagos
experimenting, observing
and collecting specimens.
As for tortoise meat, he noted
that it tasted particularly good
when roasted in its shell.
