Galapagos Islands - an archipelago of volcanic rock islands situated within a fracture zone and formed by a hot spot (opening in Earth's crust, allowing molten lava to rise from the mantle), specifically at the convergence of the Cocos and Nazca Tectonic Plates. In comparison with most oceanic archipelagos, the Galapagos are very young with the largest and youngest islands (Isabela and Fernandina), < 1 million years of existence, and the oldest islands (Española and San Cristóbal), somewhere between 3-5 million years. This archipelago is located about 600 mi. (965 km) off the coast of Ecuador - and spans a distance of about 270 mi. (435 km). This is where the cold Peru/Humbolt Current, warm South Equatorial, and cold Cromwell Equatorial Subcurrent flow together. Within the archipelago are 13 major islands, 7 smaller, and around 100 islets and sea stacks. This archipelago is situated on both sides of the equator from ≈ 1° 40' N to ≈ 1° 22' S, with the equator physically crossing northern Isabela Island. Approximately 97% of the emerged surface was declared a National Park in 1959 (Ecuador's oldest) - and a UNESCO site in 1978. The islands are surrounded by the Galapagos Marine Reserve which was created in 1998, and protects the inland waters of the archipelago, in addition to all those contained within 40 nautical miles, measured from the outermost coastal islands. Eco-systems of the islands include: arid lowland scrub with cacti, subtropical forests, moist dense forests, treeless upland covered with ferns and grasses. The archipelago does not exhibit a significant range of biodiversity, however its endemism range is extreme - for ≈ 86% of reptile species, 32% of plants, 27% of mammals, and 25% of terrestrial birds are not found anywhere else on Earth. Galápago - meaning "tortoise" in Spanish.