What is the Galapagos Islands?
The Galapagos Island
Galapagos Islands area group of archipelago made of volcanic islands. The islands are distributed some 600 miles west of continental Ecuador. Galapagos island is estimated to be between 3 to 10 million years old and lies on the Nasca tectonic plate. The island’s land area covers approximately 5,000 miles square. The highest point is the peak of the Wolf Volcano on Isabel Island, which stands at 5600ft. In 1959, the government of Ecuador declared the uninhabited sections of the island to be a national park. UNESCO followed suit by designating the Galapagos Island a World Heritage site in 1978. Some of the animals found in Galapagos island include the Galapagos penguin, which is the only penguin …show more content…
The world famous archipelago consists of 13 islands; 8 of which are inhabited and 5 that are not inhabited. The geology of these volcanic islands together with its rich fauna and flora has placed the island on the radar on scientist, nature lovers and travelers who ONLY see the attractions on TV. The islands that for the Galapagos islands are namely; Bartolome, Baltra, Darwin, The Daphnes, Fernadina, Espanola, Genovesa, Floreana, Marchena and Isabel Island.
Bartolome – Bartomele Island covers an area of only 0.5 miles square. It was named after one of Charles Darwin’s friends, Sir Bartholomew James Sullivan. The highland is home to the volcanic Pinnacle Rock. Some of the most popular activities in Bartolome include swimming, bird watching and snorkeling. The birds found on this island include the Galapagos penguins, the Galapagos Hawks and herons.
Baltra – this island has an area of 8 miles square with a maximum attitude range of 328 ft. the islands acts as a base for Ecuadorian Air force and the Navy. The island is also home to an airport which acts as an entry point for visitors to the Galapagos Islands. Baltra is generally arid, but its vegetation is rich with prickly pera cactus, salt bush and Palo Santo tress. The most commonly found birds in the island are frigatebirds and boobies. Mosquesra is a visitor popular site in the island where large concentrations of sea lions …show more content…
The horseshoes shapes island has developed into a popular bird watching island. Some of the most popular birds in the island include the red-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, finches and frigatebirds. The most popular visitor sites in the island include Darwin Bay and Darwin Bat Beach.
Floreana – Floreana covers a land mass equivalent to 107 miles squared. The island is home to about 100 people. It s also the site of the islands first post office that was established back in 1793. The first resident of Galapagos Island, an Irish man named Patrick Watkins also settled here in 1807. Floreana was also the first Galapagos island to be colonized by Ecuador in 1832. Most residents in the Island are farmers and the main city is Puerto VelascoIbarra.
Marchena – The larger Marchena island covers an area of 50 miles square. Marchena is one of the largest islands on the northern portion of the Galapagos Islands. Marchena has very few visitor sites. however there are two marine visitor sites on this island, the Punta Meija on the southwestern side and Punta Espejo in the southeast. Some of the most common animals in Marchena include the Hammerhead and Galapagos sharks, sea lions bats and
The Galapagos Island
Galapagos Islands area group of archipelago made of volcanic islands. The islands are distributed some 600 miles west of continental Ecuador. Galapagos island is estimated to be between 3 to 10 million years old and lies on the Nasca tectonic plate. The island’s land area covers approximately 5,000 miles square. The highest point is the peak of the Wolf Volcano on Isabel Island, which stands at 5600ft. In 1959, the government of Ecuador declared the uninhabited sections of the island to be a national park. UNESCO followed suit by designating the Galapagos Island a World Heritage site in 1978. Some of the animals found in Galapagos island include the Galapagos penguin, which is the only penguin …show more content…
The world famous archipelago consists of 13 islands; 8 of which are inhabited and 5 that are not inhabited. The geology of these volcanic islands together with its rich fauna and flora has placed the island on the radar on scientist, nature lovers and travelers who ONLY see the attractions on TV. The islands that for the Galapagos islands are namely; Bartolome, Baltra, Darwin, The Daphnes, Fernadina, Espanola, Genovesa, Floreana, Marchena and Isabel Island.
Bartolome – Bartomele Island covers an area of only 0.5 miles square. It was named after one of Charles Darwin’s friends, Sir Bartholomew James Sullivan. The highland is home to the volcanic Pinnacle Rock. Some of the most popular activities in Bartolome include swimming, bird watching and snorkeling. The birds found on this island include the Galapagos penguins, the Galapagos Hawks and herons.
Baltra – this island has an area of 8 miles square with a maximum attitude range of 328 ft. the islands acts as a base for Ecuadorian Air force and the Navy. The island is also home to an airport which acts as an entry point for visitors to the Galapagos Islands. Baltra is generally arid, but its vegetation is rich with prickly pera cactus, salt bush and Palo Santo tress. The most commonly found birds in the island are frigatebirds and boobies. Mosquesra is a visitor popular site in the island where large concentrations of sea lions …show more content…
The horseshoes shapes island has developed into a popular bird watching island. Some of the most popular birds in the island include the red-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, finches and frigatebirds. The most popular visitor sites in the island include Darwin Bay and Darwin Bat Beach.
Floreana – Floreana covers a land mass equivalent to 107 miles squared. The island is home to about 100 people. It s also the site of the islands first post office that was established back in 1793. The first resident of Galapagos Island, an Irish man named Patrick Watkins also settled here in 1807. Floreana was also the first Galapagos island to be colonized by Ecuador in 1832. Most residents in the Island are farmers and the main city is Puerto VelascoIbarra.
Marchena – The larger Marchena island covers an area of 50 miles square. Marchena is one of the largest islands on the northern portion of the Galapagos Islands. Marchena has very few visitor sites. however there are two marine visitor sites on this island, the Punta Meija on the southwestern side and Punta Espejo in the southeast. Some of the most common animals in Marchena include the Hammerhead and Galapagos sharks, sea lions bats and