Discover the Galapagos Islands: A Remote Paradise of Breathtaking Beauty and Unique Wildlife

1. Galapagos Islands Devin Pugh

2. Galapagos Islands • Where: • Located over 1000 km from the South American Continent and 600 miles from the Ecuadorian coastline. • Highest point in the archipelago is the Volcan Wolf (5600 ft.) which is a volcano on the island of Isabela.

3. Galapagos Islands • Who: • Theory that Incan culture visited island in the 1400’s. • Fray Tomas de Berlanga, the Bishop of Panama, documented the officially first visit to the islands in 1535. • Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos at 26 years old. • Today, 60,000 tourists visit the islands per year

4. Galapagos Islands • What: • There are many species of animals on the Galapagos islands not found anywhere else such as the Galapagos Marine Iguana, the Galapagos Hawk, and the Frigate. • The time zone for the Galapagos Islands is GMT -6, which is one hour behind Ecuador’s mainland which is GMT -5. • The climate of the Galapagos Islands is subtropical and it is regulated by the warm El Nino Current and the cold Humboldt Current • In total land area, the islands are 4897 sq. miles and in the total geographical area from Darwin Island to San Cristobal, 28000 sq. miles.

5. Galapagos Islands • When: • Initially formed between 3 million and 5 million years ago, the islands are “young” in geologic time. • In the last 200 years, a remarkable fifty plus eruptions have occurred on the Galapagos Islands. • Darwin landed on the island in 1845 • In the 450 years of human history, the island have been used as prison colonies, naval ports and research stations.

6. Galapagos Islands • Why: • There are many park rules due to the delicate environmental balance of the islands. • The name “Galapagos” came from the giant tortoises that were discovered on the island by the Bishop of Panama. • Scientists are still faced with a mystery on why such a large diversity of species developed in such a remote location such as the location of the Galapagos Islands.

7. Galapagos Islands • How: • The Galapagos Islands were formed by the combination of dynamic volcanic activity and the effect of rain and the continual force of the vast pacific at their coasts. • The archipelago consists of thirteen major islands, of which five are inhabited. • Newer islands are being formed at a rate of about 5 cm. per year by the movement of tectonic plates.

8. Galapagos Islands • Past: • In 1546, refugees of Picarro came upon the islands through foggy waters and named the islands “Las Islas Encantadas”, because they thought the islands were enchanting. • In 1807, Galapagos received its first resident, Irishman Patrick Watkins, who was marooned on Floreana for two years. • In 1959, Ecuador declared the islands its first national park.

9. Galapagos Islands • Present: • The islands are impacted by environmental issues such as El Nino. • The island is also impacted by overpopulation, tourism, and introduced species. • There are many fund raisers and conservation parks to help conserve the natural beauty of the islands. • Many tourists come to the islands to see the wildlife, the flora, and the fantastic sceneries.

10. Galapagos Islands • Fun Facts: • Darwin Island, one of the main islands in archipelago, is named for the naturalist. • Poisonous manzanillo apple trees are native to the islands. • There are thirteen species of Darwin’s finches endemic to the islands.

11. Citation • http://www.galapagosislands.com/html/galapagos_climate.html • http://www.rusticgirls.com/travel/galapagos-islands.html