1. MY FAVORITE PLACE I
WANTED TO KNOW
THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Geography
The Galapagos archipelago is located on both sides of the equator to about
970 km (600 miles) west of mainland Ecuador. Local time is GMT -6. It
consists of thirteen major islands, six smaller islands, 42 islands and several
rocks, which cover a total area of 7,850 km ². The largest island is Isabela,
with an area of 4,590 km ², which also has the highest point of the
archipelago, Wolf Volcano, 1,690 meters. 97% of the total area of the islands
is part of the Galapagos National Park, the rest is inhabited areas and
cultures of the islands of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela and Floreana, in
addition to Baltra island, occupied in its entirety by the Armed Forces of
Ecuador. The Galapagos are also a province of Ecuador, whose capital is
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island. Puerto Ayora on Santa
Cruz Island is the city with the highest tourist. The total population of the
islands, including the floating population is around 16,109 inhabitants.

2. Geology
The islands were formed about 4 or 5 million years as a result of volcanic
eruptions, emerging from the ocean surface. Today the Galapagos are
considered one of the groups most active volcanoes in the world. Many of the
islands are only the tips of some volcanoes and show an advanced state of
erosion, others are completely submerged. Recent eruptions like Fernandina
Marchena in 1991 or in 2005, are evidence that the islands are constantly
being formed. Other islands like Baltra and North Seymour, have evidence of
having been formed by tectonic movements in the ocean floor was pushed to
the surface.
Conservation
The Galapagos Islands archipelago form the most diverse and complex world
in which the conditions remain relatively intact. Because of its distance to the
mainland and the fact that this was never attached to the existing flora and
fauna evolved dramatically until they are now and have remained unchanged
until the man came to them first. The species of plants and animals typical of
the islands had no predators for thousands of years of evolution, for which
animals show no fear in the presence of humans and other animals. This
makes the Galapagos a very special and fascinating and so interesting to
science, tourism and photography, where visitors can have an experience
with nature that will not forget in his life.
But while this same feature makes your balance is so delicate and fragile,
and therefore their management is essential in controlling the introduction
and spread of alien species, and strict control of tourism and other human
activities, such as fishing. The institution responsible for the management
and protection of the islands and Marine Reserve is the Galapagos National
Park, in collaboration with other entities such as the Charles Darwin
Foundation.
The wildlife consists mainly of birds, mammals and reptiles. In the Galapagos

3. there are no amphibians. Its rich marine life makes these islands a unique
place and so now has the reputation as the most important dive destination in
the world. At present, the animals introduced by settlers for some years, such
as goats, pigs, donkeys, dogs, cats and rats, which, having no competitors
have expanded to become one of the main problems for the conservation of
wildlife the islands. The same is true in the case of plants, so that the
institutions involved in conservation are also responsible for control and
eradication of plants and animals.
Climate
Despite being in Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands do not have a humid and
hot as other equatorial regions, being in a dry area of the Pacific, where
temperatures are kept low by the influence of the cold Humboldt current,
which comes from the Antarctic. This particular phenomenon of cooling air
along the southeast trade winds and sometimes the influence of the Child,
produced two seasons throughout the year. The "rainy" season from January
to May, is characterized by warm temperatures between 23 and 27 ° C and
sunny days. The ocean is warmer and less moved, with better visibility
underwater. This station can have periods of rain, which is usually low, but
may be years with excessive rainfall, such as those caused by El Niño.
The cold season from June to December, with temperatures dropping to 19 °
C or less, is caused mainly by the cold Humboldt current, which comes
strongly from the north coast of Peru. The cold water lowers the temperature
of the air, bringing a rough wind with low water and overcast skies. The cold
season is usually dry, but in the highlands mist is present, which always
keeps them moist. This results in large islands with altitudes higher than
500m, they are up to 7 zones of vegetation, each with its own microclimate.
This current also brings lots of plankton, which, together with cold water,
causing a significant increase in marine life, which increases the activity of
land animals, especially birds, thus enhancing their reproduction.
Human History
On March 10, 1535, Fray Tomas de Berlanga, Bishop of Panama, while
traveling to Peru due accidentally swerved off the beaten track and
discovered the islands, where they stopped for water and food. This is
considered the official discovery of the archipelago.
In the year 1570 appears Galapagos for the first time on a world map with the
title "Insulae of Galopegos". Towards the years 1593 - 1710 becomes refuge
and center of operations and supply British and American pirates, who used
the giant tortoises for food. By this time, about the year 1684, the pirate
William Ambrose Cowley made the first map of the islands, using names of
English royalty. Then came whalers and sealers American and English and
used them as food supply, endangering the populations of giant tortoises, the
capture of hundreds of thousands and also decimating the populations of
seals and sea lions. On February 12, 1832 Colonel Ignacio Hernandez took
official possession of the islands Floreana and called on behalf of Ecuador,
calling them "Archipelago of Ecuador" and giving Spanish names. Three

4. years later comes the scientist Charles Darwin aboard HMS Beagle, who
remained in the archipelago for five weeks, from September 15 to October
20, 1835. During this period the young scientist visited the islands of San
Cristobal, Santiago, Floreana and Isabela. Their observations and notes on
the fauna and flora of the islands helped him formulate his theory of evolution
of species and in 1859 published his famous book On the Origin of Species
by Means of Natural Selection.
In 1892 Galapagos gives the official name of "Archipelago de Colon" and the
islands are given names related to the discovery of America, which is why
some islands have come to have five different names. During World War II
American forces occupied the islands and built a naval air base and in Baltra,
where they remained until 1948. On July 4, 1959, the Government declared a
National Park Galapagos all areas that are not settled, setting limits. On 23
July the same year, he created the Charles Darwin Foundation and Research
Station was inaugurated the same name in 1964. In 1978 the UNESCO
declared the Galapagos "Natural Heritage of Humanity".
During the 60's tourism starts on a larger scale, and with it the increasing
population on the islands. Until 1998, this increase was estimated at 8% per
year, which caused strong pressures on natural resources, increased the risk
of introducing nonnative species and created problems related to land, basic
services and food requirements. Today, with the creation of the "Special Law
for the Conservation and Sustainable Development of Galapagos Province"
and then signing the general rules applicable to the same law, is expected to
end the threats facing most the park.
MarinReserve.
Dialogue
Why would i want to know is the Galapagos islands as part of our country
and also tourists visiting these beautiful islands give your views and is very
good, say that there are very exotic animals that are not in any other side of
the world.
our country is rich in wildlife that we appreciate Ecuador and how not care,
but my greatest dream is to know these islands so beautiful.
As a tourist attraction, Galapagos can hardly be surpassed. with its
prehistoric-looking animals, the wildness of the landscape, it's bloody history,
the exotic flora and fauna, have given reason hundreds of people to visit this
place very beautiful.
Nothing more attractive than this suggestive letterhead to create the "need"
for people to see him, but tourism to the Galapagos is a special tourism,
leisure and entertainment no, no large hotels, crowded beaches of caberets
and casinos, but on the contrary, on a visit to the islands, to admire nature in
its original splendor, to experience for a moment my life so simple but yet so
peaceful and more humane than that daily harasses the poor inhabitant.