Friday, June 19, 2009

History of Galapagos Islands


Galapagos Islands
Photo of Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

These islands are located just below the equator, 600 miles off the coast of Equador in South America. There are around 19 volcanic islands and range in different sizes. The oldest island are over 4 million years old, while the youngest islands are still being formed today. The islands has fascinated people for hundreds of years. There is so much wildlife; such as Penguins, tropical birds, albatross, blue footed boobies, pelicans, gull birds, hawks, finches, snakes, iguanas, totties and the Komodo dragons and much more. Sounds like a wonderful place to visit, no wonder Darwin fell in love with this place.

The Galapagos Island were first discovered by accident in 1535, when Thomas Berlanga's ship was carried out to the islands by the ocean currents. Later in 1835 the islands were studied by Charles Darwin, he was fresh out of college when he went on his expedition to Galapagos Island, aboard a ship named HMS Beagle.

Darwins very radical idea on the structure of the living world transformed biology from a collection of curious but disconnected facts into a vigorous and unified science. His theory of evolution by natural selection originated during a five year voyage around the world as a naturalist on board the HMS Beagle.The first crude navigation of the islands was done by Ambrose Cowley in 1864. He named the individual island after some of his fellow pirates or English Noblemen, later they were renamed.

The Galapagos Islands are a place born of fire. In the last 200 years a remarkable fifty plus eruptions have occurred, some threatening the fauna and flora, some creating new land, such as the lava flow on Santiago Island, this was unseen in Darwins time. As the tectonic plates move (at a rate of about 5cm per year) the volcanic activity moves with them, creating newer islands to the west and reducing activity of older islands to the east.

The islands animals are unique in the world, do to its exotic wild life and environment, that can only be seen in the group of beautiful and enchanted islands located in the Pacific Ocean. The animals in the Galapagos are unafraid of man and they are so different from any others found elsewhere. This fact make visitors wonder about their very existence on our planet. Galapagos Islands wild life is one of the major attractions and there are thousands of visitors a year.

There are a few islands that have inhabited towns, most of the islands do not. Two of the islands have airports. The towns are small but are well equipped with modern conveniences.You are not allowed anywhere on the island without a tour guide and not allowed off the trails. The high season for tourists to visit is usually June to August. Tourists with interest in the volcanic origins may prefer to visit in the cool dry season, when conditions are more pleasant for hiking. I enjoyed posting this and I hope you enjoy it as well.


19 comments:

Femin Susan said...

Your blog is informative..... What a great place, thanks for sharing..

A New Beginning said...

I totally agree with Femin, you have a very informative blog. Keep up the great work...and yes the place sounds exciting, God has made this world so beautiful and vast that it realy leaves one amazed:)
Thanks Margaret, have a great week ahead!

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

A most informative blog, it's always interesting to read of other places, some perhaps one will never visit. It gives an insight to other ways of life. Thanks Margaret for sharing.

Have a good week-end.
Yvonne.

Puss-in-Boots said...

That's where the Komodo Dragons live...giant lizards and quite dangerous, but fascinating reptiles.

Patty said...

Very interesting post. Thanks for sharing. We spent most of the day at my older brother's house. When I say older brother, he is the oldest of the two that are younger than me. We had a cook-out. Everyone brought a covered dish. I took pickled eggs and beets, they went over so well at the reunion a few weeks ago. One daughter tool Mac and cheese, one a relish and dip tray plus a tray of asst. olives, one took chocolate pudding dessert and one brought some pasta salad and some other kind of salad, that is for vegetarians. There was also two kinds of pie, and a pan of brownies, plus several kinds of chips, cheese, pickles and onions for the hamburgers and hot dogs. Asst. soft drinks and a freezer of home made ice cream. Everyone had a great time, he lives on a lake at a place called Wayne Lakes, mailing address is Greenville, Ohio. So after lunch several of them went out in his paddle boats, he has two of them. The kids love it. He also has a tree house for his two grandsons who weren't abel to be there, so our granddaughter and grandson enjoyed climbing up into it and looking out over the look. The weather turned out to be prefect, compared to yesterday, with the horrible humidity. Today no humidity, after the storm went through around 3am, and there was a breeze all day.

Hope you and Wayne have a terrific Sunday. Tell him Happy Father's Day.

Gigi Ann said...

I enjoyed reading about this post on the Galapagos Island. Have you ever heard of "Lonesome George" the Tortoise. He live on the Galapagos Islands. He is the only one of his kind still alive. They are hoping he will mate with some of the females closest to his species. I haven't heard lately if they mated or not. The last I heard they were hoping some eggs the females laid would hatch and then they would run a DNA test to see if they were Georges, but haven't found out yet if that worked or not. I need to go do my research and see what I can find.

Merle said...

Dar Margaret ~~ One never knows what topic you will choose, but they are all interesting, so keep them coming. Thanks for your comments and
thank you, my ear is better. I agree that the KMart greeter was right and the Boots one so funny
The two men in my pic wer George Clooney and Brad Pitt - are considered God's gift. American actors
Take care Margaret and look after yourself.
Love, Merle.

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

I have missed so many of your post lately. I had to catch up tonight...Blessings for a great week...m.

ryliej said...

Great information Ms. margaret, thanks for sharing!

Chubskulit Rose said...

our family friend live there in greenville..

john said...

greenville ohio sounds familiar..

Back Through Time said...

You are full of great information!!
thanks for this great post
Michelle

Judy said...

This was so interesting and informative. I always learn something when I come over here!

Renie Burghardt said...

The Galapagos Islands are a fascinating place! I have read about them and watched National Geographic programs about them. It would be a dream trip, to go there, but I don't think that will ever happen. I enjoyed your report, Margaret. Have a great week!

Renie

Jeanette said...

Gday Margaret.
thanks for the very informative post sounds truly beautiful and an amazing place,.

Yankee Girl ~ Missy said...

Wow that was really interesting! Love reading your blog.

Merle said...

Hi again Margaret ~~I am so glad you enjoyed the jokes that I posted. The tired dog and the candle in Rome - both were funny. Take care my friend and stay well. Love, Merle.

Zuri said...

The Galapagos Islands are the most incredible living museum of evolutionary changes, with a huge variety of exotic species (birds, land animals, plants) and landscapes not seen anywhere else.

Parag said...

Traveling to the Galapagos Islands is a way to step back in time, visiting a quiet, untouched place on Earth. This paradise is the ideal place for those who want to be in a pure and natural habitat, enjoying natural history and wildlife.
Galapagos islands attractions

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