Beagle Expedition

The Beagle Expedition (1831-1836) was a voyage led by naturalist Charles Darwin aboard HMS Beagle. Its primary goal was to map parts of the South American coast, but it also allowed Darwin to study diverse plants, animals, and geology. His observations, especially of finches and fossils, challenged existing ideas about species and adaptation. These insights laid the groundwork for Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. The expedition significantly advanced scientific understanding of Earth's diversity, evolution, and the interconnectedness of life.