A ship embarked on a journey from the southern coast of England on August 15, 2023, to retrace the path English naturalist, geologist, and biologist Charles Darwin (1809-1882) undertook two centuries ago. This historic voyage catalysed the groundbreaking development of the theory of evolution.
Oosterschelde, the Dutch schooner, was cheered as it left the coast of Plymouth looking at a two-year journey. The schooner will serve as a portable laboratory on the sea and port where over 200 young naturalists and conservationists from around the world will congregate to participate in the project called "Darwin200."
Why The Journey?
The journey will focus on studying how climate change affects the ocean and marine life. The team will employ cutting-edge tools like drones and underwater robots to collect data and track shifts in the surroundings.
Anticipated to span a duration of two-three years, the expedition will cover a distance exceeding 50,000 miles. The team's itinerary includes stops in nations like Brazil, Argentina, and Chile–countries pivotal to Darwin's historic explorations. The voyage will commence with the ship's initial port of call at the Canary Islands, followed by a transatlantic crossing to Brazil.
Navigating along South America's eastern coastline, the ship will subsequently chart a course up its western shores before culminating its journey at the Galapagos Islands, a site of profound significance for Darwin's groundbreaking revelations.
The voyage stands as a homage to Darwin's enduring legacy and his invaluable scientific contributions. Additionally, it underscores the significance of investigating the ocean and its marine inhabitants, as they play a pivotal role in maintaining the planet's well-being.
In December 27, 1831, the Beagle set sail from Plymouth, England, marking the beginning of Charles Darwin's transformative voyage. Despite enduring sea-sickness, the journey led him to profound discoveries and insights. From the Canary Islands to the Cape Verde Islands, challenges and dreams intertwined as quarantine and geological epiphanies shaped his perspective. Darwin's exploration of Brazilian rainforests in Salvador in February 1832 left an indelible impression, while his encounter with the cruel treatment of slaves in Rio de Janeiro heightened his awareness of social injustice. Fossil finds in Punta Alta ignited his scientific curiosity, and the failed Christian mission in Tierra del Fuego underscored cultural complexities.
The Falkland Islands provided glimpses into island evolution, while the Pampas journey alongside gauchos granted Darwin a taste of freedom. The long-awaited arrival in the Pacific Ocean in June 1834 marked a geographical milestone. Natural phenomena, geological shifts, and island biodiversity enriched his observations, including the Galápagos Islands' evolutionary puzzles. Sydney's marsupials sparked biogeographical questions, and coral atolls at Cocos Islands tested his theories. Throughout the journey, homesickness lingered, culminating in Darwin's triumphant return to Falmouth, England, on October 2, 1836, where he marveled at the journey's impact and the joy of being home once again.