The Islands That Changed the World

S1 E2: When Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands on September 15th 1835, his experiences and studies of the unique environment would change the understanding of life on Earth. With dramatic reconstruction and stunning wildlife images, Galapagos explores the hidden side of the islands, revealing why, more than any other place, they are a showcase for evolution. Through their movement on continental plates, they have spread into a group of islands each with its own character, ocean currents and climate. Life on the islands has been forced to adapt to change or die. Tortoise shells have changed shape to fit the island they inhabit; flowers have become yellow to attract the only bee that made it here; finches have turned into warblers; and cormorants have lost the power of flight trading it for streamlining and a magical life searching for fish in the sparkling Galapagos waters. But not all life here is confined to the Galapagos. Frigate birds come from miles around, sperm whales visit the waters to breed and human visitors also come to see the environment that changed the course of history.