The History of the Galapagos & Ecuador
The Galapagos Islands are located about a thousand kilometers from Ecuador and lie in the Pacific Ocean. The island is a province of Ecuador and has a population of over 40000 people. The islands are a group of volcanic islands which are blessed with distinct flora and fauna. This South American chain of islands is a part of the Ecuador National Park region and the official language is Spanish. The island is also known for the studies conducted by Charles Darwin.
The islands are often termed as Enchanted Islands owing to the swift and rapid currents which make navigation a serious issue for even seasoned sailors. At the same time, the islands are blessed with a scenic Geography and have a unique bio diversity to boast off. Galapagos history dates back to the year 1684, when the first crude navigation chart was drawn by Ambrowse Cowley. It is believed that he named the islands after one of his pirates or after the English gentlemen who supported his cause.
With times, things are changing and when we mention the name Galapagos Islands, we almost always think of Spanish or a related name. Galapagos history dates back to numerous years and a solid history to boast of. While most of the Islands had English names which have now been changed to Spanish names, few islands are still remembered by their early names. The English names have been inspired by Charles Darwin. Galapago is a word which can trace its antecedents to a Spanish dialect, which means saddle. The name has been inspired by the unique tortoise and there are only three hundred left in the island today.
The islands lie in South America and have Ecuador to the eastern region while to the north lies Cocos Islands. To its south lies the Easter Islands and a little below the Easter Islands are the San Felix Islands. The islands are located in both the northern as well as the southern hemisphere. The Volcan Wolf and Volcano Ecuador are located on the Equator. The Volcan Wolf is supposed to be the highest point on the island and is located at an elevation of 1,707m above sea level
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Galapagos History dates back hundreds of years and the oldest island was stated to have evolved five to ten million years ago. The youngest island is about ten years old and is said to have been formed after a volcanic eruption. The volcanic eruption occurred in the year 2008 and led to the formation of Isabela and Fernandina. The name of the volcano is Cerro Azul Mountain.
Galapagos history dates back millions of years. The Baltra Island was created by a geological uplift and is said to be located in the center of Galapagos. During the World War II, it was transformed into an air base. Today, it serves as a major military base for the Ecuador government.
The Enchanted Islands
The islands are often termed as Enchanted Islands owing to the swift and rapid currents which make navigation a serious issue for even seasoned sailors. At the same time, the islands are blessed with a scenic Geography and have a unique bio diversity to boast off. Galapagos history dates back to the year 1684, when the first crude navigation chart was drawn by Ambrowse Cowley. It is believed that he named the islands after one of his pirates or after the English gentlemen who supported his cause.
New Names To The Islands
With times, things are changing and when we mention the name Galapagos Islands, we almost always think of Spanish or a related name. Galapagos history dates back to numerous years and a solid history to boast of. While most of the Islands had English names which have now been changed to Spanish names, few islands are still remembered by their early names. The English names have been inspired by Charles Darwin. Galapago is a word which can trace its antecedents to a Spanish dialect, which means saddle. The name has been inspired by the unique tortoise and there are only three hundred left in the island today.
Physical Geography And Galapagos History
The islands lie in South America and have Ecuador to the eastern region while to the north lies Cocos Islands. To its south lies the Easter Islands and a little below the Easter Islands are the San Felix Islands. The islands are located in both the northern as well as the southern hemisphere. The Volcan Wolf and Volcano Ecuador are located on the Equator. The Volcan Wolf is supposed to be the highest point on the island and is located at an elevation of 1,707m above sea level
.
Major Islands And Their Formation
Galapagos History dates back hundreds of years and the oldest island was stated to have evolved five to ten million years ago. The youngest island is about ten years old and is said to have been formed after a volcanic eruption. The volcanic eruption occurred in the year 2008 and led to the formation of Isabela and Fernandina. The name of the volcano is Cerro Azul Mountain.
Main Islands And Their Formation
Galapagos history dates back millions of years. The Baltra Island was created by a geological uplift and is said to be located in the center of Galapagos. During the World War II, it was transformed into an air base. Today, it serves as a major military base for the Ecuador government.
- The Bartolome Islands is a result of a volcanic eruption and was names after a lieutenant in the British navy. It is also a relatively young island.
- The Fernandina Islands are named after King Ferdinand II of Aragon. It is the youngest and the westernmost island and is renowned for its mangrove forests.
- The Darwin Island, named after Charles Darwin, is known the world over for its amazing flora and fauna.
- The Espanola Island is also known as the Hood, after an English gentleman and is supposedly an honor to Spain. It is spread over an area of sixty square kilometers.
- The Floreana Island is named after the first president of Ecuador. It is also known as Santa Maria, after one of the caravels of Columbus. It is spread over 173 square kilometers. It has an underwater volcano called the Devils Cone and is known for its coral reefs.
- The Genovesa Island is named after the Geona in Italy, where Columbus was born. It is also nicknamed “the bird island” and has numerous species of birds. It also consists of Palo Santo forest.
- The Isabela Island has been named after the Queen Isabela. It consists of six large volcanoes and is the third largest human settlement in the entire archipelago.
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