As Pangea fractured and became continents, smaller fragments of the earth’s crust became islands. There are 14 different sub-species that are believed to be extinct. Currents inadvertently drove Fray Tomás towards Galapagos, after he had set out from Panama on his way to Peru. Luna Tobar, Alfredo. Local time is GMT - 6. Victor Wolfgang Von Hagen, Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands (1949). The Galapagos archipelago is located about 1000 kilometers to the west of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. The Galápagos lie about 966 kilometers (600 miles) off of the Ecuadorian coast.. The island literally got its name from the giant tortoise-galapago means tortoise in Spanish. Less known is that humans have been present in the archipelago since the beginning of the nineteenth century. Understanding the Galapagos Islands geology can help you to gain a great appreciation for the beauty and unique features that each of the islands has to offer during your vacation. In News: Chinese fishing fleet entered the Galapagos region and Ecuador has officially expressed its “discomfort” to China over the fishing vessels.. About. Galapagos hotspot: The islands sit above the Galapagos hotspot where the Earth’s crust is being melted from below by a mantle plume, which creates volcanic land. The largest of the islands, Isabela, measures 4,640 sq km (1,790 sq mi) and makes up half of the total land area of the Galápagos. We now have penguins in the tropics and such a remarkable biological system that it got Darwin thinking about life. With just four inhabited islands and a population of 25,000 people, the Galapagos Islands have a distinct fusion of cultures from Europe, South America, and the U.S. that reflects the roots of the immigrants who helped establish life here less than 200 years ago. It is formed by 13 main islands: Darwin, Wolf, Pinto, Marchena, Genovesa, Fernandina, Isabela, Santiago, Baltra, Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Floreana, as well as countless islands … The Galapagos Islands Climate Galapagos Weather and Climate The Galapagos Islands are on the equator and the climate does not vary dramatically over the year. His account is the first written record of Galapagos and describes the giant tortoises and cacti, the inhospitable terrain, and the difficulty of finding water—characteristic features of the islands. The Galapagos Islands, spread over almost 60,000 sq km, are a part of Ecuador, and are located in the Pacific Ocean around 1,000 km away from the South American … The highest point in the Galapagos Islands is Volcán Wolf on Isabela which is 1,707 m (5,600 ft) above sea level. 1.Baltra (South Seymour) Island – Also known as South Seymour, Baltra is a small flat island near the center of the Galápagos. The Galapagos Archipelago is located at a distance of 972 Km (600 miles) West of mainland Ecuador. While many people visit the Galapagos Islands each year for the stunning wildlife, others feel that the geology itself is the most fascinating characteristic in the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos come from a hotspot located on the seabed in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and so, it was created by consecutive volcanic eruptions and lifting of the layers. Sun & Fun: Due to the islands location on the Equator, there is an equal of 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night all year-round. The largest island is called Isabela. It consists of 13 main islands, 6 smaller islands, 42 islets and many rocks, covering a total surface of 7,850 km². Toronto: Warwick Pub., 1998. Biotic and abiotic factors. Abiotic Factors:-Water: Water is a major abiotic factor because is creates and entirely new area for species to thrive. The Galápagos were formed by volcanoes. The oldest island, Española , was formed three to five million years ago, when molten rock called ‘magma’ burst through the sea bed, gradually forming a volcano that rose out of the sea. The Galapagos Islands are a living laboratory of evolution and helped inspire Charles Darwin. They are found in the Pacific Ocean, almost 1,000 km from the coast of Ecuador in South America. From weird pink iguanas and painted insects; to mysterious new species; here are STRANGEST Creatures of the Galapagos Islands ! A large portion of the Galapagos species are at least semi-water-based, not to mention the hundreds of species of fish that live near the islands. The islands never shared a history with a large continental land masses. 1. The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands located 563 miles (906 km) directly west of Ecuador. The Galapagos are comprised of 13 large islands, six small islands, and 40 islets that are named, as well as other ecological and geographical formations that have neither been named nor explored (Jackson, 1993). There are thirteen major islands and a handful of smaller islands that make up the Galápagos archipelago. The Galápagos Islands are a group of 19 islands and more than 100 islets and rocks in the Pacific Ocean, about 1,000km off the coast of Ecuador in South America. These tortoises can weigh up to 250 pounds and live for over 100 years! … De Roy, Tui. The Galapagos consist of 13 major islands (ranging in area from 5.4 to 1,771 square miles [14 to 4,588 square km]), 6 smaller islands, and scores of… Here you will find a list of the main Galapagos Islands and some general information on the size and types of species found on each. Galapagos, Islands Born of Fire. The islands are spread out over 23,000 square miles (59,500 square kilometers). The Galapagos Islands were born of fire - the same fire that melts the earth’s crust and has created a unique natural environment that could not exist without it. The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago or group of islands that have been created by volcanoes. From that species emerged marine iguanas, which spread to nearly all the islands of the archipelago. The Galapagos Islands are hailed as “evolution’s workshop” (Larson 2002): they conjure up images of idyllic isolation, giant tortoises, finches and a visit by Charles Darwin. Galapagos Islands. The Galápagos Islands are a chain of islands, or archipelago, in the eastern Pacific Ocean.They are part of the country of Ecuador, in South America. This happened millions of years ago, when the Galapagos Archipelago formed. Aquatic Adaptations. The Galápagos petrel is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. The Galápagos consist of 13 major islands, 6 smaller islands, and many very small islands called islets. The largest of the islands is Isabela which makes up nearly three-quarters of the total land area of the Galapagos islands at 5,827 km² (2,250 mi²). Each island hosts marine iguanas of unique size, shape and color. The Galapagos giant tortoise is the most well know of the fauna, or animals, of the Galapagos islands. Opuntia trees and Sesuvium cover in South Plaza, Galapagos Islands / Don Heffernan, Flickr / CC BY 2.0. The overall Galapagos group consists of 15 main islands, 3 smaller islands, and 107 rocks and islets. Ecosystem of Española Island – Española. Familiarise your students with the story of Lonesome George, the Galapagos giant tortoise, and why he became famous worldwide. Click for more kids facts and information or download the worksheet collection. The Galapagos Islands, situated several hundred miles off the coast of the South American country Ecuador, are an ecological treasure with an amazing level of biodiversity. The group consists of 18 main islands, 3 smaller islands, and 107 islets or rocks. Galapagos Islands, island group of the eastern Pacific Ocean, administratively a province of Ecuador. The Galapagos Islands are often called Laboratory of Evolution due to the following reasons: 1.- The Galapagos Islands are very young geologically speaking. The climate of the Islands can best be described as subtropical. Around 35,000 people live in the Galapagos but they only live on 5 of the islands. Cruise ships carry between 40 and 100 passengers, so they are still small compared to cruise ships that sail in other parts of the world, though it enables you to enjoy the Galapagos free of crowds. Part of: GS Prelims and Mains I – Geography. They lie along the Equator in the eastern Pacific Ocean, 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) west of Ecuador. Additional Bibliography. The group of islands consists of 18 main islands, 3 small islands, and 107 rocks and islets. Not so for the Galapagos Islands. Talented artisans and delicious food are just a few things you'll experience here. Students will learn about the factors that led to him becoming the only sub-species of his kind and why he became a conservation icon for the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos Islands are made up of 18 main islands, 3 smaller islands and over 100 islets. Volcan Wolf on Isabela is the highest point, with an elevation of 1,707 m (5,600 ft) above sea level. There is far more than one could learn in a lifetime about geology, ecology, biology, and evolution from the Galápagos, partly because of where they are on the planet. Over millions and millions of years, nearly all islands in the world were once connected to a huge, central land mass (called Pangea). Galapagos Islands Geography What to tell about the geography of the islands? The Galápagos Islands are located 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) from the South American mainland but a world apart from anywhere else on Earth. They are mainly distributed in the Galápagos Marine Reserve area, but studies revealed that individuals frequently leave the reserve and disperse northeast towards South America and up to 2000 km southwards in the period between January and February. John Hickham, The Enchanted Islands (1986). Galapagos cruise ships are the largest vessels to sail the Islands and tend to be more luxurious and more stable in the water than most smaller yachts in the Galapagos. Reading Time: 5 minutes For many travellers, the idea of exploring Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands is one drenched in folklore.. The islands are famous for their unique animals … There is, however, some variation driven … The Galapagos Islands. W hen the first of the Galápagos Islands arose from the ocean floor around 3m years ago, they were naked, angry, lava-spewing cones devoid of life. The Galapagos Islands geology has played an integral role in the evolution of living things. 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