Galapagos 2006

Islands Born of Fire The Galapagos

Galapagos is perhaps the only great natural paradise remaining in the world in a near pristine condition.

Threats – High human influx from mainland Ecuador. – The absence of a quarantine system to avoid the introduction and dispersal of foreign species. – Funds are lacking to protect the islands – Illegal fisheries besieging coastal waters. – Lack of legal framework to ensure the long term preservation of the archipelago

Who oversees the Islands? The islands are owned by the country of Ecuador. The Ecuadorian National Park Service provides services to the tourists who visit the islands each year. Since Ecuador is a small and not a wealthy country, the tourism helps with the upkeep and protection of the islands. Tourism has taken its toll on the islands and the surrounding waters.

Profile of Ecuador Area: 283,560 sq Km; about the size of Colorado Capital City: Quito with a population of 1.5 million. Quayaquil is a coastal city with a population of 2.0 million

The Galapagos Islands Located about 1000 KM off the west coast of South America Cluster of 15 larger islands with several dozen smaller islands The islands do not form any part of land mass and have never done so.

Islands made famous by Charles Darwin’s book, Origin of the Species Through Natural Selection The islands are clustered atop a massive Submarine Galapagos Plateau. The islands are basaltic oceanic volcanoes similar to those in Hawaii. The volcanoes gradually die and erode.

The oldest islands are those that are very flat and close to sea level. The younger islands like Isabela and Fernandina still have active volcanoes The islands have not been inhabited by many people over the years due to climate..hot..cold..wet…dry conditions and located a long ways from near ports. No deep topsoil conducive to growing food

Few Islands have human habitation Santa Cruz and San Cristobal combined have populations of about 16,000-20,000 people. Most of these are fishermen, shop keepers supporting tourism and National Park personnel, professors at the University on San Cristobal, Researchers and Students.

Santa Cruz Island also houses the Charles Darwin Research Facility which deals with collecting tortoise eggs hatching and caring for them until they can be repatriated to their native habitats.

The islands have been visited by pirates and other sailors in passing. They stop and collect Tortoise for food and leave goats, dogs, cats, rats and other animals on the islands. These alien specie have caused much environmental damage to the islands and its native organisms.

Two very Stately Blue Footed Bobbies

Back on Deck we begin to cool down, relax and enjoy a beautiful sunset after our first day on the Islands.

A view of the Pacific from Espanola Island. This Island has many beautiful vistas.

One has to watch his/her step as the area is covered with nests, lava lizards, iguanas, mocking birds, tropic birds.

An Iguana is digging a nest to lay eggs.

A Blowhole

Protection of these Islands is everyone’s responsibility. Despite tourism, pollution, wild goats, dogs, rats, and pirates the islands have survived about 5 million years. It will take lots of education, proactive political action, and funding to protect these islands.