The Galápagos Islands xeric scrub, also known as the Galápagos Islands scrubland mosaic, is a terrestrial deserts and xeric shrublands ecoregion that covers the Galápagos Islands. The Galápagos Islands are volcanic in origin, and remote from continents and other islands. The ecoregion is well known for its unique endemic species, including giant tortoises, birds, and marine iguanas, which evolved in isolation to adapt to islands' environments. Geography The Galápagos Islands lie in the Pacific Ocean, about 960 km west of the South American mainland. They are politically part of Ecuador. The Galápagos archipelago consists of 128 named islands. There are 13 islands larger than 10 km2, 19 larger than 1 km2, 42 islets smaller than 1 km2, and at least 26 emergent rocks. The total land area of the archipelago is 8032 km2. Isabela is the largest and highest island, with an area of 4,588 km2 and reaching an elevation of 1,707 meters. The islands are volcanic in origin, formed by the Galápagos hotspot. The eastern islands are generally older, dating back 3 to 6 million years, while the western islands are less than 1 million years old. Surface geology consists of volcanic rock, typically basalt, and includes pumice, ash, and tuff ejected from volcanoes. The landscape has volcanic features like crater lakes, lava fields, lava tubes, fumaroles, and sulfur vents. Soils are generally young and thin. Four islands – Isabela, Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, and Floreana – are permanently inhabited. The islands have approximately 30,000 permanent residents. There are docks on all the inhabited islands, and an airport on San Cristóbal. Baltra Island has an airport, military base, tourism dock, and fuel facilities. Climate The climate is tropical, oceanic, and semi-arid, influenced by the annual movements of ocean currents. There are two main seasons. The dry or garúa (misty) season generally lasts from May to December, influenced by the cool Humboldt Current coming from the south. The dry season is characterized by cooler temperatures and lower rainfall. Mist and drizzling rain, known as garúa, occurs during this season, particularly in the highlands. August is typically the coolest and driest month, with temperatures as low as 18°C and as little as 5 mm of rainfall. The hot and wet season extends December to May, influenced by the warm Panama Current from the north shifting to surround the islands. This season brings warmer temperatures and higher rainfall. March is typically the