Nature In The Galapagos

As I stepped onto the desolate beach, I was immediately in awe of this paradise inhabited only by nature. I heard nothing but a silence interrupted only by the sounds of turquoise blue waves crashing and sea lions barking. The powdery sand beneath my feet was the softest I had ever felt. On the island of Española in the Galapagos, it was just me, my family, and our guide, completely alone in a place that time forgot.

I have been fascinated with the Galapagos since I first learned about it in ninth grade biology. Reading about this magical place, however, could never compare with being there. By actually seeing the incredibly unique animals, birds and plants that can be found only on these islands, I discovered a new perspective on the world and its inhabitants. Ralph Waldo Emerson describes similar feelings in his essay entitled Nature. Emerson states “The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other, who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood.” In this quote, Emerson is explaining that to truly experience nature, you have to experience it both with your brain and your spirit. Although I learned about the Galapagos by studying science, the way I felt while being there could never be accurately described in a textbook or discussed in a classroom. Emerson further observes “Standing on the bare ground - my head bathed by the blithe air and uplifted into infinite space - all mean egotism vanishes. I become a …show more content…
By traveling to the Galapagos, I saw that the beauty of nature can sometimes transcend scientific study. Although I can understand rationally why a certain species survives while others do not, spending time with nature makes me realize that it is still a magical thing that can never completely be understood. The more time I spend with nature, the more I see its beauty and