Travel to the Galapagos

The Galapagos Islands are world famous for their unique wildlife. Many species are only found here, e.g. giant turtles, sea and land iguanas and darwin finches. The islands also have distinctive vegetation and a dry and pleasant climate. According to topschoolsoflaw, the Galápagos is rightly on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Here there are good opportunities to snorkel and get really close to sea lions, penguins, sea turtles and fish in bright colors. A visit to the Galápagos is an absolute must for all nature enthusiasts.

Population: 30,000

Capital: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Language: Spanish

… Stray pets such as goats, pigs, dogs and rats have exterminated several unique animal and plant species and that a campaign has therefore now been launched to get rid of the pests?

… One of the world’s leading experts on the islands’ flora and vegetation is the Danish professor Ole Hamann? He works primarily with the conservation of the islands’ nature.

Nature

The Galápagos Islands, which include 15 larger and several smaller islands, are located about 1,000 km west of Ecuador. They generally consist of volcanoes and are between 0.7 and 4.5 million years old. They are in a “hot spot”, ie. an area where lava flows from the earth’s interior. The islands have never belonged to the American mainland and therefore an outstanding wildlife has also developed here. Over the years, some animals have come to the islands, either driven by the sea currents or – for the birds – carried on their own wings. Here on the islands, they have undergone a very special development. The same goes for the plants. Among the animals, iguanas and large turtles dominate. There are eleven species of turtles left (three species are extinct). The most famous is the galapagos tortoise, which has given its name to the islands. Its shield resembles a saddle, which is called “galápagos” in Spanish. Near the coast grow shrubs and cacti, higher up on the sides of the volcanoes evergreen forest. Fruit trees and elephant grass that have been brought into the islands pose a danger to endemic vegetation. The Danish galapago expert Ole Hamann has called the islands “a showcase for evolution”.

History

The Galapagos Islands were discovered by the Spaniards in 1535. They did not settle here, but in the 17th century pirates used the islands as a base and later whalers stopped here to stock up. In 1832 the islands were annexed by Ecuador and three years later the English naturalist Charles Darwin came on the ship HMS Beagle. His studies of the islands ‘wildlife became crucial to his theory of the species’ origin.

In 1926, a small group of Norwegians tried to start a fish factory on the island of Santa Cruz, but without success. During World War II, the Americans had an air base on the island of Baltra. The Galápagos Islands became a natural park in 1959 and five years later the Charles Darwin Research Station opened on the island of Santa Cruz. This center explores wildlife and vegetation and works to preserve the islands’ nature.

Climate and weather Galápagos

Here you can read about the climate of the Galápago and see average temperatures for the city of San Cristobal

Although the Galápagos Islands are located in the tropical zone, the climate is dry and pleasant due to the cold Humboldt Current. There are two different seasons: the hot and humid season from December to May and the dry season from May to December. During these two periods, the temperature is relatively stable: during the warm period, the daytime temperature is 27–30 ° C and the nighttime temperature is around 21–23 ° C. During the dry period, the daytime temperature is 24–27 ° C and the night temperature is around 18–22 ° C. The precipitation varies from year to year and from island to island! In some years, there will be no more than 100 mm of rain throughout the year.