Snail mail: Floreana Islandâs Post Office Bay dates backs to the 18th century, when homesick whalers improvised a method of communicating with their familiesâvia a simple wooden barrel. Collect plant samples, make sketches and notes like a real naturalist. Red-footed boobies are the smallest of the trio; blue-footed boobies flaunt their strikingly-hued feet to attract mates; and the Nazca booby, the largest of the three, can be identified by its brilliant white plumage and black-tipped feathers. Each canton has a seat, which is a town like a capital. Galapagos consists of 13 main islands, 6 smaller islands and 107 rocks and islets (a small island). North Seymour Island in the Galápagos; Daphne Island is in the distance. Make a documentary to introduce others to the world of Darwin. There are 19 islands with a total of 8,010 square km (3,093 sq. In 1832, the islands were annexed by Ecuador. Penguins of the tropics: Waddling about the islandsâprimarily on Isla Fernandina and Isla Isabelaâis the only species of penguin found north of the Equator. All of the islands of the province are in one of the three cantons. The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago or group of islands that have been created by volcanoes. Images acquired on 2 March 2009. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- Seeming like shadows upon the sea from one another, the 13 main islands are Baltra, Española, Fernandina, Floreana, Genovesa, Isabela, Marchena, Pinta, Pinzon, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, and Santiago. Charles Darwin was 22 years old when he visited the Galapagos Islands on September 1835. Having strong reading comprehension skills will also help in other subjects. Ecuadorâs first national park: An astonishing 97 percent of the Galápagos landmass is designated a national park. The Galápagos tortoise or Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) is the largest living species of tortoise; this one is from the Island of Santa Cruz. Ninety-seven percent of the islands are a national park and half of the land species (and one fifth of the marine species) are endemic to the Galapagos. Puerto Villamil is the town of Isabela Island, where about 2,000 people live. Penguins, fur seals, giant tortoises, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, hawksâthe list is endless. The Galapagos are a naturalistâs dream, filled with a diverse array of plant and animal life unique in the world. Perhaps the countryâs most famous attraction are the extraordinary and unique wildlife experiences that can be found on the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos Islands are a cluster of scattered islands almost 1000 kilometers off the Pacific coast of South America, and belong to Ecuador. The Galapagos finch offspring are all slightly different and unique. The islands are one of the 24 provinces of Ecuador. Around 35,000 people live in the Galapagos but they only live on 5 of the islands. In 2001, about 18,000 people lived in the Galápagos Islands. Nat Geo connection: In 2015, National Geographicâs Pristine Seas team carried out an expedition to the Galápagos to survey its extraordinary marine environments and make a case for greater protection of its waters. The Galapagos Islands are located 600 miles away from the Ecuadorian coastline, formed by 61 islands and islets with 13 main islands. Galapagos Islands: Facts and Information The Galapagos Islands are volcanic and each year about 60 eruptions occur. Born of fire: The Galápagos Archipelago is one the most volcanically active areas in the world. Swimming lizards: While they may not be the prettiest of the archipelagoâs species (Charles Darwin famously described them as âhideous-lookingâ), they are certainly among the most intriguing. The Galapagos finch parents reproduce and create offspring. There, at the Charles Darwin Research Station, we met Lonesome George along with other Galápagos ⦠The very first island is thought to have formed between 5 and 10 million years ago, as a result of tectonic activity. Berlanga was less than impressed with the stark, desert-like archipelago, describing it in a letter to the king of Spain as "dross, worthless, because it has not the power of raising a little grass, but only some thistles.". Though penguins are more commonly associated with the Southern Hemisphereâs chilly realms, the Galápagos penguin thrives in its tropical Ecuadorian habitat thanks to the cool, nutrient-rich waters of the Humboldt Current, which flows north from Antarctica. There are three cantons in the province. 9 Cool Galapagos Sea Lion Facts. When I studied abroad in Ecuador, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to the Galapagos Islands, an archipelago of volcanic islands that straddle the equator to the west of Ecuadorâs coast in the Pacific. CHARLES DARWIN´S PROFILE. Human habitation: Though Spanish sailors, buccaneers, and whalers soon followed in Berlangaâs wake, the islandsâ inhospitable terrain discouraged permanent habitation. The main language on the islands is Spanish. The islands are famous for their unique animals that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. 10 Fun Facts About the Galapagos #1. Situated atop a hotspot in the western Pacific, the islands were created over millennia of volcanic activity, as magma repeatedly broke through the sea floor and formed layer upon layer of rock, eventually becoming islands. Wildlife; Responsible tourism; Conservation; History; What We Do. Students read the text and then answer the study questions. The islands were made from volcanoes, and volcanoes are still making the islands of Isabela and Fernandina today. Tragically, this unique adaptation was a leading factor in their demise over the centuries, as thousands of tortoises were captured and stored onboard ships to provide fresh meat for sailors. The Galapagos are an archipelago of volcanic islands that span across the equator line. The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands located 563 miles (906 km) directly west of Ecuador. Below we have listed some of the most prominent species and the areas in which you are most likely to find them. Both cities can easily be reached with ⦠Visiting the Galápagos Islands is like walking into the middle of a wildlife documentary. Conservation in action: For decades, researchers have been working to stabilize local tortoise populations at the captive breeding program on Santa Cruz, run by the Galápagos National Park Service and supported by the Lindblad ExpeditionsâNational Geographic Fund. Inside the barrel, they left letters for other seamen on homeward-bound ships to deliver by hand. Today, more than 25,000 people live among the four inhabited islands of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela, and Floreana. They are part of the country of Ecuador, in South America. Orthographic projection centred over the Galápagos. The islands are one of the 24 provinces of Ecuador. 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 located in the Pacific Ocean, 926 km (575 mi) west of Ecuador, South America, and are an offshore territory of Ecuador. Puerto Ayora is the biggest town, where about 10,000 people live. School of scalloped hammerheads, Wolf Island, Galápagos Islands. Their laterally flattened tails propel them through the water, while their long, sharp claws help them cling to rocks. Click Here For New National Curriculum Resources. Getting to the Galapagos Islands requires flying into either Quito or Guayaquil, the biggest cities in mainland Ecuador. There are thirteen major islands and a handful of smaller islands that make up the Galápagos archipelago. How to Get to the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos archipelago, with a population of around 30,000, is a province of Ecuador, a country in northwestern South America, and the islands are all part of Ecuadors national park system. Facts about the Galápagos Islands The Term âEnchanted Islandsâ Was First Known In 1589 Around then, navigators gave the Galápagos Islands the name âEnchanted Islands,â because, as indicated by the narratives, these âappeared and disappearedâ, this occurred because of the strong sea currents that prevent access to the islands at specific seasons. 13 Awesome Galapagos Tortoise Facts 1. Gentle giants: The islandsâ giant tortoisesâafter which the archipelago is namedâcan survive up to one year without food or water. More than 100,000 tortoises are estimated to have been lost, leading to the extinction of several species and pushing others to the brink. Each canton has a seat, which is a town like a capital. Theyâre the First World Heritage Site World Heritage sites are places of historical, cultural, scientific, or... #2. And, with more than 400 species of fish, some of the most unique birds on the planet, and an iconic collection other native and endemic Galapagos wildlife, visiting the islands can feel like youâre literally stepping into a National Geographic-style ⦠About Galapagos. The Galapagos archipelago is perhaps one of the most bio-diverse places on earth. Most people are from the Mestizo ethnic group, which are the descendants of Spanish and Native American peoples. Ecuador is South Americaâs best kept secret and has the WOW factor for a truly exciting family holiday. When we were in Galapagos, I would sit in the common area at our resort and just watch the sea lions. Enter the world of famous naturalist Darwin and his discoveries. The Galapagos are an interesting place for ecologists and biologists because, in limited and small areas like the islands, it is easier to study and understand relationships and dynamics among the populations of species. And thatâs just part of the story. 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. Situated atop a hotspot in the western Pacific, the islands were created over millennia of ⦠Hereâs a guide to the animals & wildlife youâre almost certain to see on a trip to the Galapagos Islands, as well as those that are harder to find. Practical Facts About the Galapagos Islands 27. The Galápagos Islands are a chain of islands, or archipelago, in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Brilliant boobies: The three species of boobies that inhabit the Galápagos can be distinguished by their color. Tourism has steadily grown over the last two decades; in 2012 it is estimated that 200,000 tourists will visit the Galápagos Islands. The Galapagos Islands are found 1000 kilometres (600 miles) off the west coast of Ecuador, South America. The Galápagos was annexed by Ecuador from Spain in 1832, which led to a trickle of settlements and penal colonies. This page was last modified on 8 April 2021, at 17:09. Galapagos Flora. The Galapagos Islands had no original inhabitants when they were accidentally discovered in 1535 by Tomas de Berlanga. Inspired in part by the teamâs findings, the government of Ecuador announced in 2016 the creation of a vast new marine sanctuary around Darwin and Wolfâtwo of the archipelagoâs northernmost islands. This includes such exotic flora and fauna as giant cacti, finches, flightless cormorants, and the famed giant tortoise, whose average lifespan of 100 years makes it the longest living vertebrate on earth. The only northern hemisphere penguin â another fascinating fact about the Galapagos Islands is that the Galapagos penguin that lives there is the only bird in the penguin family that lives above the equator â apart from birds that can be found in zoos and wildlife parks of course. Here, the English naturalist famously observed that the islandsâ finches (later named in his honor) had beaks that varied from island to island, depending on local conditions and food sources. Evolution revolution: Although Charles Darwin only spent five weeks in the Galápagos in 1835, his time in the archipelago left a lasting impression. With its unique position straddling the Equator, the archipelago also offers a rare opportunity to view the constellations of the both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at the same time. Galapagos hotspot: The islands sit above the Galapagos hotspot where the Earthâs crust is being melted from below by a mantle plume, which creates volcanic land. There is a massive variety of plants to be seen on the Galapagos depending on which area you are visiting. 2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Six hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador lies the Galápagos Archipelago: a world unto itself, forged of lava and isolated for thousands of years. Year 6 English - Reading comprehension. Familiarise your students with the story of Lonesome George, the Galapagos giant tortoise, and why he became famous worldwide. The word â Galapagos â comes from the old Spanish word â galapago, â which the original explorers used to mean âsaddleâ due to the shape of the tortoise's shells. Explore the Galápagos Islands on an expedition cruise with National Geographic. The islands are famous for having many native animals, including giant tortoises, that are found nowhere else on Earth. The populations of Galápagos tortoises that live on the hotter and drier islands of the Galápagos have developed shells that are saddle-shaped with a high notch above the neck. The largest island is called Isabela. Marine iguanasâfound exclusively in the Galápagosâare the worldâs only seagoing lizards. Born of fire: The Galápagos Archipelago is one the most volcanically active areas in the world. Stars in your eyes: Unobscured by light pollution, the night skies over the Galápagos are some of the most dazzling on the planet. This allows them to stretch their necks higher to reach vegetation that grows above the ⦠... Charles Darwin discovered the Galapagos finches when he arrived in the Galapagos Islands. miles) of land. The Galapagos Islands are made up of 18 main islands, 3 smaller islands and over 100 islets. Our Projects; Highlights; Blog; Get Involved. In earlier times, they were thought to be lying at the other end of the world as they looked so lonely and far removed from any other land. Puerto Ayora is on Santa Cruz Island. There are three cantons in the province. This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support! People live on only 5 of the 19 islands of the Galápagos: Baltra, Floreana, Isabela, San Cristobal and Santa Cruz. The Galápagos Islands are on the equator, 973 km (604 miles) from Ecuador in South America. The top shell of a tortoise is called the carapace; the shell that covers a tortoise's belly is called the plastron. They reminded me of adorable, lazy dogs. The islands came out of the deep dark depths of the ocean about four million years ago after volcanic activity on the ocean floor. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/expeditions/get-inspired/inside-look/galapagos-islands-facts-fun-facts-about-galapagos.html. All of the islands of the province are in one of the three The youngest islands, Most people have come from mainland Ecuador to live in the islands within recent years (about 3500 people lived on the islands in 1972). Satellite photo of the Galápagos islands overlaid with the names of the visible main islands. Sun & Fun: Due to the islands location on the Equator, there is an equal ⦠The Galápagos lie about 966 kilometers (600 miles) off of the Ecuadorian coast. Meet Darwin, learn about adaptation, create Naturalistâs Notebooks similar to those of Darwin. Discovery by accident: The first-recorded visitor to the Galápagos was Tomás de Berlanga, a Spanish noble and the bishop of Panama, whose ship was blown off course in 1535 while sailing from Panama to Peru. All rights reserved. One of the greatest aspects of a trip to the "Enchanted Isles," from a visitorâs point of view, is the fact that the animals living in the Galapagos are extremely tolerant of our presence; in fact, they have no natural fear of humans and allow us to approach them at close ⦠Thriving phytoplankton populations are indicated by high chlorophyll concentrations (top image), coloured green, and yellow. Read our top 10 interesting facts about the UNESCO awarded Galapagos Islands 1. Contrary to their fierce, spiky-headed appearance, marine iguanas are herbivores, feeding primarily on algae and seaweed. Adult Galápagos sea lion resting on a park bench in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, The marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) Galápagos Islands Santa Cruz â swimming in Puerto Ayora, Juvenile Galápagos penguin before banding, Bottlenose dolphins jumping off the islands, Española, Floreana, Genovesa, San Cristóbal, Santa Fe, Baltra, Bartolomé, Marchena, North Seymour, Pinta, Pinzón, Rábida, Santa Cruz, Santiago, Great frigatebird and magnificent frigatebird, Thirteen endemic species of tanagers, popularly called. At first, they were barren mounds of cooled lava. This KS2 reading comprehension includes a passage with some interesting facts about the Galapagos tortoise. Today, there are 13 active volcanoes in the archipelago with intermittent eruptions occurring as recently as 2018. The bottom image shows sea surface temperature, cool upwelling waters are coloured purple. The Galápagos National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1978), a marine reserve (1980), and a biosphere reserve (1986). Established in 1959, Galápagos National Park protects more than 3,000 square miles of islands and islets, while the Galápagos Marine Reserve protects an additional 50,000 square miles of ocean around the islands. Research the Galapagos Islands and create a fact-file. Here, visitors can observe these iconic creatures up close and explore a facility where tortoise hatchlings are reared before being repatriated to the islands. The second biggest town is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal with about 5,600 people. The... #3. Darwin would later draw on this research as evidence for his theory of evolution by natural selection, which he presented in On the Origin of the Species. The abundance of friendly and plentiful wildlife makes the Galapagos Islands a perfect destination for animal lovers. The Galapagos Islands are famous for the diverse plant and animal life found both on land and in the surrounding seas. Cool feature: Galapagos sea lions are endemic to the Galapagos Islands. From an aircraft flying out of Baltra Island (on the right) and the Santa Cruz (on the left), the Itabaca Channel is the waterway between the islands. Become a member; Donate to our protecting livelihoods appeal; Events; Adopt a Galapagos Animal; Newsletter; Galapagos Photography Competition; Home Learning Resources; Annual cruise; Corporate membership; Galapagos Matters Magazine; ⦠I hope you enjoy these great Galapagos sea lion facts! There are approximately 30,000 people living in the Galapagos as of 2012. Travelers from all across the globe come here to spot the islandsâ incredible variety of endemic animals. These animals helped Charles Darwin towards his theory of evolution by natural selection after he visited the islands in 1835. The Park Service provides rangers and guides, and is responsible for overseeing the many tourists who visit each year. The islands are home to over 25,000 people clustered in small towns, the capital is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The oldest island, Española , was formed three to five million years ago, when molten rock called âmagmaâ burst through the sea bed, gradually forming a volcano that rose out of the sea. The islands are known for their famously fearless wildlife and as a source of inspiration for Darwinâs theory of evolution. History of the Galapagos Islands. The Galápagos Islands (Archipiélago de Colón in Spanish) are a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean which now belong to Ecuador. The group of islands consists of 18 main islands, 3 small islands, and 107 rocks and islets. The capital of the province is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, a town with 5,600 people. The Galápagos form an archipelago, which means a large group of islands, of 18 major islands and loads of smaller islands. Galapagos Islands Facts: Today. Galapagos is named after its tortoises. KS2 . Their Volcanoes are Active Volcanic eruptions rising above the oceanâs surface formed the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos National Park Service and the Charles Darwin Research Station jointly operate the islands. The Archipelago is made up of 14 large islands, 7 smaller islands and over 100 rocks and islets. It wasnât until the 1960s that an increasing number of Ecuadorians began migrating to the islands, drawn by opportunities in fishing and tourism. The capitalof the province is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, a town with 5,600 people. The most recent volcanic eruption was Cerro Azul in May 2008 on Isabela Island. 97% of the islands are a national park, all except the inhabited parts. The tradition continues to this day, with thousands of letters passing through the hands of visitors to Post Office Bay.
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