Galapagos Islands on the map of south america. Where are the islands. Galapagos and volcanic activity

Surprising as it sounds, there are no indigenous people on the Galapagos Islands. Mostly Ecuadorian mestizos live here - the descendants of Spanish colonists and South American Indians, who arrived here from the mainland in the second half of the last century.

And even earlier, English pirates felt good here in between robberies - the islands remained uninhabited for a long time after the discovery: they were located too far from the continent (the distance between the archipelago and Ecuador is as much as one hundred kilometers). An important role was also played by the fact that the Galapagos Islands have almost no sources of fresh water.

And even now the population is small and does not exceed 30 thousand people who live only on five islands: Baltra, Isabella, San Cristobal and Santa Cruz, which is only 3.3% of the total territory of the archipelago, while the islands are inhabited only partly - in the center or on the coast, near the marinas.

The Galapagos Islands are made up of thirteen major islands, six - small and one hundred and seven rocks and alluvial territories ( total area Galapagos is about 8 thousand km²). The archipelago is located in the Pacific Ocean, and is a province of the state of Ecuador (located 972 km to the west from it). If you carefully look at the Galapagos Islands on the map (they are located from 1° 40′ N to 1° 36′ S, and from 89° 16′ to 92° 01′ W), you can notice that in their shape they resemble a pentagon.

The Galapagos Islands were discovered at the beginning of the 16th century, when the ship of the Panamanian bishop Thomas de Berlanga accidentally deviated from the course. Recently, scientists have found that South American Indians have been here much earlier, because they found the remains of dishes and other traces of human activity.

Galapagos and volcanic activity

Like almost all archipelagos formed at a great distance from the continent, the Galapagos Islands have volcanic origin, since they were formed in the region of the transverse fault that cuts through the East Pacific Rise.

Volcanoes first appeared along this crack (from west to east), and after some time, about 5-10 million years ago, a volcanic plateau formed in one of the sections, and on it the Galapagos Islands, which have a complex configuration, winding , rocky shores, and under water - a huge number of coral reefs.

Some local volcanoes are still active. For example, the most active of them, the Sierra Negra, located on the island of Fernandina, has erupted more than twenty times since 1813.

Since people do not live here, its eruptions are dangerous only for flora and fauna. Another active volcano, Wolf, which is located on Isabella Island, erupts less frequently and is the most high point archipelago: its height is 1707 m.

Climate of Galapagos

The climate of the archipelago is primarily influenced by ocean currents and winds. Despite the fact that the Galapagos Islands are located near the equator, due to the cold Peruvian Current washing the archipelago, the climate here is much cooler than in other areas of these latitudes: the average annual temperature is about 24 ° C (the hottest months are from December to June). Here, as in other equatorial regions, there are two seasons: rainy (December to April) and dry (July to October).

The vital activity of the archipelago

Such a significant distance from civilization could not but have a positive effect on the wildlife of the archipelago - it is so unique and interesting that it is not found anywhere else in the world.

That is why in the 1980s body of water around the islands was declared a "marine conservation area" (it should be noted that in size it is only inferior to the Great Barrier Reef, located off the coast of Australia), and UNESCO declared Biosphere Reserve national park, which is located on an area of ​​almost 700 hectares.

And not in vain, because about sixty species of birds live on the Galapagos Islands, half of which are endemic, not only a huge number of a wide variety of fish species live in the ocean depths, but there are also many sea lions, seals, eels, rays, dolphins, huge flocks ( about 300 individuals) hammerhead sharks swim.

Despite its proximity to the equator, here you can see representatives of not only the tropical, but also the Antarctic wildlife - moss grows near the lianas, parrots fly over the heads of the Galapagos penguins, and dolphins swim next to the seals. Some animals have long been symbols of the Galapagos Islands.

penguins from the equator

Galapagos penguins are the only penguin species in the world that is quite comfortable around the equator. These birds live mainly on the islands of Isabella and Fernandina, and nest in caves and lava voids.

Since the Galapagos Islands have a very hot and dry climate for penguins, these amazing birds have had to adapt in order to survive. First of all it showed up:

• In their size, the Galapagos penguins are considered the smallest penguins in the world: an adult bird is 50 cm tall and weighs about 2.5 kg;
• In terms of numbers - no more than 2 thousand individuals live here (and their population decreases every year), and therefore these birds are considered the smallest species of the family and are even listed in the Red Book;
• On the way of life - during the day, when the air temperature reaches its maximum, the Galapagos penguins sit in the water (they avoid it only during the molt that occurs before the start of the breeding season), and come ashore at night when it gets cooler.

elephant turtles

In the territory unique reserve the Galapagos tortoise lives - the largest tortoise on Earth, which is rightfully considered one of the longest-lived vertebrate animals in the world: in the wild, Galapagos tortoises can live for more than a hundred years, and in captivity they live even longer.

For example, the oldest known turtle in the world, Henrietta, from the Australian Zoo, recently turned 175 years old (although the exact date of birth of this reptile is unknown, its approximate age has been determined using DNA tests). IN this moment The Galapagos Islands contain twelve of the fifteen subspecies of these reptiles:

1. Smaller ones, whose weight ranges from 30 kg in females to 50 kg in males, have long and thin legs, a long neck and a saddle-shaped shell, which allows them to penetrate into the vegetation in case of danger and hide in it. They prefer to live on small islands, where lowlands and a drier climate prevail;
2. Larger ones, weighing from 200 to 400 kg (the difference between males and females is not as significant as in small species), have a short neck, a dome-shaped shell, the length of which is from 120 to 180 cm. They prefer to live on big islands, in high-mountain areas with a humid climate.

In previous centuries, the population of these animals has decreased significantly. The main reason is, of course, people, since the Galapagos tortoise is able to live for several months without food and water, sailors took them with them as “live canned food”. If in the 16th century their population numbered 250 thousand individuals, then in 1970 - only 3 thousand.

IN Lately thanks to captive-bred babies, the number of this species of turtles has slightly increased and, according to rough estimates, is about 19 thousand copies.

exotic tourism becoming more and more popular among hobbyists unusual travel. And one of the most unique places in a land where you can relax from the busy pace of modern life, are the Galapagos Islands with their original nature and wildlife.

Galapagos Islands on the world map

Those who ride traditional tourist routes-, etc. - they cannot always quickly answer the question in which corner of the earth the Galapagos are located.

Where are they and who do they belong to?

The Galapagos Islands have several names, including Turtle Islands And Colon archipelago.

The first name comes from the word galapago - in Spanish they denoted large water turtles that were found here in abundance.

Islands belong to the state Ecuador and are separated by 972 km in a westerly direction from coastline this country. If the question is, in which ocean are the islands, then we can safely answer that they are washed by the Pacific Ocean and belong to its eastern equatorial part.

The area of ​​the islands is 8010 km², and the number of inhabitants exceeds 25 thousand people. The Galapagos are separate province of Ecuador. The largest islands are:

• San Cristobal;
• Isabela(the height of the volcanic peaks exceeds 1700 m);
• San Salvador (maximum height volcanic peak - 518 m);
• Santa Cruz;
• Fernandina(the corresponding indicator is 1134 m).

The capital of the archipelago is the town Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the largest locality on the island of San Cristobal. However most of Galapagos residents live on Santa Cruz, where Puerto Ayora is located - the focus of tourist activity. on the islands of Isabela and Fernandina are still active, the rest are considered extinct.

Going on a trip by air, find out about the location of seats on the plane to choose the most convenient one.

Climate

Although the Galapagos are located in the equatorial region, the climate here is quite cool due to the presence of ice ocean currents. Average annual temperature rarely exceeds 23-24°C, and the water temperature is approximately 20°C throughout the year. From to the temperature range ranges from + 19-26 ° C, and from to - + 22-31 ° C.

A small amount of precipitation falls here - no more than 150 mm annually, and mainly from December to. This rain season, while the dry season starts at and ends at .

How to get from Moscow?

The fastest and easiest way to get to the Galapagos from the capital of Russia is to buy a ticket for a flight of Aeroflot, KLM, Luftansa, British Airways, Air France and others from Quito with mandatory transplant at one of the airports or . Direct connection to Ecuador from Russian capital does not exist: transit through Madrid, Miami, and other megacities is available to tourists.

Citizens of Russia can cross the border of Ecuador without a visa and stay on its territory for up to 90 days without an appropriate visa, but you will need a visa to fly to the United States.

Flights arrive at the most important international airport in Ecuador "Mariscal Sucre". From Quito, you can reach the archipelago using the local airlines Ikar and Tame.

Final destination - island of san cristobal(remember that planes do not fly here every day) and Baltra Island near Santa Cruz Island. The flight here from Quito will take 3 hours, from another local big city of Guayaquil, if after traveling from you decide to travel around Ecuador - 1.5 hours.

There are buses from Baltra Airport to the departure point for the ferry to neighboring Santa Cruz at the Itabaca Canal. won't cost you anything. The crossing to the island takes no more than 5 minutes. On Santa Cruz, you will have two options to get to Puerto Ayora: get on the bus (ticket price $ 1.8, trip duration more than 60 minutes) or take a taxi and comfortably get to the city in 40 minutes at a price of $ 18.

There are regular departures from Puerto Ayora cruise ships , which are the only option for moving within the archipelago.

The fee at the airport upon arrival in the country is $100. It is forbidden to import:

1. Animals;
2. insects;
3. Flowers;
4. Fruits.

uninhabited island formations

Of the numerous islands, most of them are uninhabited, but organized excursions allow you to visit these unusual corners.

Baltra

Baltra Island was formed by the rise of lava formations and is located almost in the very center of the archipelago. It's very arid climate, so that mainly such representatives of the flora as burzers, prickly pear and undersized shrubs live here, as well as iguana lizards.

The island is completely absent tourism infrastructure and no hotels: it is exclusively the "gateway" to the Galapagos due to the presence airport.

Bartolome

The island was named after Lieutenant of the British Navy David Bartholomew. Although there are no inhabitants at all, this small island is extremely popular among travelers. It is an extinct volcano and impresses visitors with unusual volcanic formations, the most famous of which is a classic cone-shaped tuff hill known as Pinnacle Rock.

Here you can get up close and personal with huge turtles and sea lions, as well as traditional archipelago penguins. However swimming is not worth it: quite a lot of reef sharks swim around.

Wulf

This island borrowed its name from a geologist of German origin wolf. Its area is a little more than 1 km², and the island rises 253 m above sea level. If you like birds, be sure to come here: only here you will find a sharp-billed ground finch resembling a vampire: the blood of boobies serves as food for it.

Among the fauna of the island are marine iguanas and fur seals, frigatebirds, local gulls, masked and red-footed boobies.

The ocean abounds with playful dolphins and whales, and shark attacks are not uncommon.

Darwin

The island impresses with its miniature area of ​​1.1 km² at an altitude of 168 m above sea level. Local animal world , which visitors can admire, is typical of the Galapagos. Sea lions, turtles and nimble lizards, red-footed boobies and their exotic Nazka cousins ​​live here. Whales swim near the coast and frigates fly.

Genovesa

He borrowed his name from Italian, where Columbus was from. The island is raised above sea level by 76 m with an area of ​​14 km². Once upon a time there was huge crater, gone under water: its tip formed an island.

The island is also known as "avian" thanks to the huge number of nesting birds, including frigatebirds and local gulls, flying out to hunt at night. The Palo Santo forest and the Prince Philip Steps panoramic platform deserve the attention of tourists. Genovesa is also inhabited by:

1. Family members storm-petrels;
2. red-footed boobies;
3. Phaetons;
4. pigeons.

Terns, smoky gulls, Darwin's finches also importantly walk along the beach.

allowed on the island exclusively court, the number of passengers on which is less than 40 people who moor in Darwin Bay. It is in this place that it is good to observe most of the flying inhabitants of the island and climb the path to the rock, where they build their nests.

Marchena

The island, whose area exceeds 100 km², rises above sea level by 343 m. the only its inhabitants are sea lions, lizards and local buzzards. There are excellent diving opportunities here, but as a rule, tourists see the island from afar, sailing past to neighboring islands.

Pint

The sonorous name he borrowed from one of sea ​​vessels Christopher Columbus. It is completely uninhabited, with the exception of marine iguanas and fur seals, sparrowhawks and local gulls.

The rarest species of sea turtles also lived here, considered completely extinct since 2012.

Pinson

Here on an area of ​​18 km² missing any sights, however, it is quite possible to admire the life of marine iguanas, buzzards and lions, ancient turtles, and also occasionally admire the games of dolphins. The name of the island comes from the name of the brothers who led the crews of the Nina and Pinta ships equipped by Columbus.

Rabida

He is known for his burgundy shade of soil, which is explained by a significant concentration of iron in the lava flows covering it. Pelicans, 9 varieties of finches, blue-footed boobies live on this small island formation with an area of ​​​​4.9 km².

Rare brown pelicans hatch their chicks right in the undersized salt bush that grows on the beach: this is almost the only place on the planet where they let people close.

The coast of Rabida is an excellent choice for diving, but beware of the sharp teeth of the sharks. "Zest" islands - a lagoon with high salinity water, which was chosen by beautiful pink flamingos. Along the trail, tourists can climb from the beach to a reddish-colored rocky peak and admire the view of the ocean.

Santa Fe

This is one of the oldest island formations in the archipelago with volcanic formations over 4 million years old. Be sure to walk along the most extensive in the Galapagos forest of cacti species Opuntia.

Do not be alarmed if you meet small dinosaurs: these are just two kinds of iguanas - rice rats and land iguanas Barrington, which are extremely rare elsewhere. Phaetons, Galapagos gulls nest on the rocks, petrels fly by, which are very interesting to watch.

Santiago

It is formed by two seemingly intersecting volcanoes and has become a permanent home for fur seals and turtles of all kinds. Of the birds, it is worth noting flamingos, Darwin finches and Galapagos hawks. Santiago makes a special impression because of lava flows spread over the earth - the oldest of them has more than 750 thousand years.

The most famous attraction of the island is Puerto Egas south of James Bay. Here you can go on an excursion to the old salt crater, repeating the path of the trolleys from its top to the coast. Nearby, the ruins of buildings and the remains of mechanisms for extracting salt have been preserved. In the depths of the crater is a tiny salt lake. Opens from the top beautiful view on orangeish lava fields overgrown with grass and undersized shrubs.

Also noteworthy:

• Fur seal grottoes floating in majestic pools of lava, having a rounded shape;
• Buccaneers bay, once chosen by filibusters. Here a majestic impression is made sandy beaches scarlet hue and steep rocky peaks of tuff.

Plaza Sur

Plaza Sur is one of twin islands, formed by a geological elevation and inclined in a northerly direction. Its area is approximately 0.13 km², and the only inhabitants are Opuntia cacti and the sesuvium plant, whose leaves turn bright fiery during the dry season. This gives the local nature an unusual look. Also, iguana lizards often dart here.

Seymour Norte

Not big Island with an area of ​​just over 1 km² will be of interest to everyone lovers of ornithology.

The hiking trail is approximately 2 km long and runs through the center of the island, skirting the coast.

During the tour, you can see natural whimsical corridors made of natural lava, volcanic formations, meet shy iguanas, admire the rookeries of imposing fur seals and watch blue-footed boobies and unusual local gulls.

Fernandina

This is the third largest island of this archipelago with an area of ​​642 km². One of the most interesting local attractions - lava fields resulting from the activity of a volcano. Of the plants, only lava cacti and mangroves have taken root here, and from the inhabitants you will be lucky enough to see marine iguanas, lions and local penguins.

Hispaniola

On an island with an impressive area of ​​60 km², you may be lucky enough to see waving albatross- the coast, cut by rocks, is ideal for taking off giant birds from the peaks. The hooded mockingbird often perches directly on tourists' shoulders in search of food.

gardner bay And Punta Suarez- two local attractions - will introduce you closer to marine iguanas and lions, tropical colorful fish and lava lizards of all shades of the rainbow.

In addition to volcanoes, nature has created another amazing phenomenon - waterfalls. There are waterfalls that amaze the eye with their huge flow of water and scale. It is these waterfalls that are discussed in.

Galapagos Islands - unusual world , strikingly different from more civilized places of rest. A trip here is sure to be remembered for a long time.

At the mention of the Galapagos Islands, many people remember Charles Darwin, who made a round-the-world trip on the Beagle and the pirates who hid in these parts from the Spaniards and the British.

Someone will say about incomparable diving, and someone will object to him that there are a lot of sharks in the Galapagos and better here do not dive.

We will tell you some informative facts about this resort, introduce you to photos and reviews. experienced tourists, we will tell you how to get here and slightly open the veil of secrecy regarding prices for tours and trips.

Where are the islands

19 islands form the archipelago we know as the Galapagos Islands.

These picturesque pieces of land are located in the Pacific Ocean at a distance of 972 kilometers from the coast.

Relative to Ecuador, the islands are located in the west.

Most of the province is a national park, and the waters surrounding it are a marine reserve..

The archipelago is one of the provinces of Ecuador and consists mainly of volcanic islands.

Few people live here - about 25 thousand, and most of the inhabitants are concentrated in Santa Cruz, where the city of Puerto Ayora is built - the main tourist center of the Galapagos.

But the capital of the archipelago is located on another island, San Cristobal, and bears the poetic name of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Actually, this is the administrative heart of the islands.

The Galapagos are called the "laboratory of evolution".

In addition, there is an airport where your plane will land from Quito.

We list the key islands included in the archipelago:

1. Isabela. The largest island of the Galapagos, pleasing to the eye:
   • numerous lagoons,
   • Urbina Bay (home to local iguanas, giant tortoises and even penguins),
   • mangroves,
   • the highest volcano in the region, bearing the formidable name Wolfe.
2. Santa Cruz. The second largest island of the group.
   Here, as already mentioned, the town of Puerto Ayora is located, which boasts a well-developed infrastructure. Scientists working at the Darwin Research Station live nearby.
3. Fernandina. To get here, you need to sail to the western sector of the archipelago.
   Of the attractions - the world's largest colony of iguanas Punta Espinosa and the volcano La Cumbre.
4. San Cristobal. The island is not the largest, but the capital.
   This place is remarkable for its landscape versatility - each of the Galapagos natural areas is represented here to a small extent.
   A unique freshwater source is also localized here - a lake that filled the El Junco crater.
   The uniqueness of the object is that the water never dries up here.
5. Hispaniola. This medium-sized island is located in the southern part of the archipelago. It is notable for the fact that wavy albatrosses live here - they do not nest in other parts of the world.
6. Santa Maria. Another south island OK.
   Tourists flock here to admire the Devil's Crown - the most beautiful crater of the once erupting volcano. The object got its name because of the prongs sticking out above sea level.
   Shark Bay, which washes the coast of Punto Cormoran, is also very popular.

So, we found out that the Galapagos are located near Ecuador. But how to get there from Moscow?

People get to these islands in three ways:

1. On a cruise ship;
2. On a private yacht;
3. By plane.

Not all representatives of the middle class will pull the first two methods, so we will take a closer look at the third.

In the Galapagos, you can easily get burned in a matter of hours, as there is a very high level of solar radiation.
In order not to spoil your holiday, you should use sunscreen and wear hats.
This is especially true between December and April.

First you need to purchase a ticket for a flight to Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Fallback option is to fly via Guayaquil. From these two cities, you can easily get to the Galapagos in the same way - by air.

Domestic flights are operated by two local companies - Ikar and Tame.

Airports were built on two islands - Baltra and San Cristobal. The flight time from Guayaquil will be one and a half hours, from Quito - all three.

If you still decide to travel through Baltra, be aware that this island is not inhabited. You will have to take a ferry ticket and move to Santa Cruz. There is a regular bus service to the pier.

Galapagos on the world map

On the world map, the archipelago seems like a tiny scattering of specks. You can’t immediately distinguish a single island - what can we say about rocks and reefs, of which there are more than a hundred in the local water area.

Islands in the photo

Panoramas of individual corners of the archipelago are invariably picturesque and attract the attention of a European.

In the photo, the Galapagos are represented by the cleanest blue lagoons, ledges of rocks and snow-white sand.

island landscape
Leisure
Holidays on Galapagos Beach
island fauna

Beautiful Galapagos
Undersea world
Galapagos tortoises
Holidays in San Cristobal

Holidays in the archipelago

The entire tourist cycle is concentrated around Isabela and Santa Cruz.

Most travelers prefer to stay in Puerto Ayora, as the infrastructure here is the most suitable for tourist needs.

The best places to live are concentrated on the coast, and they cost accordingly. If you are planning budget holiday— book a room in city hotels.

Let's mention the hotels of the Galapagos Islands, available to the traveler of the "middle hand":

• Hotel Fiesta. Three star hotel in Puerto Ayora.
  Available:
  • solarium,
  • restaurant,
  • banqueting hall,
  • conference room,
  • playroom for children,
  • pool,
  • laundry.
• Hotel La Laguna Galapagos. Based in Puerto Villamil. Three Stars. Transfer to the hotel is paid. Eat:
  • restaurant,
  • hydromassage,
  • laundry.
• Bay Suites Hotel. A cozy place that can shine with four stars. At your service:
  • laundry,
  • restaurant,
  • outdoor pool.
• bay house. No stars. But it's cheap and cheerful. A bonus is the hot tub.
• Hotel Albemarle. The "chips" of the hotel include:
  • restaurant,
  • room service (lunches),
  • outdoor pool,
  • cycling,
  • laundry,
  • the presence of a fax.
• Hostal Sula Sula. Nice little hostel in Puerto Villamil. Equipped with laundry. You can stay with friends.

Diving

Among divers, the most popular areas are the islands of Wolfe and Darwin. Mostly experienced people who have become proficient in the field of diving flock here.

Wolfe boasts observation centers where you can photograph hammerhead sharks at close range.

Rocos Gordon on Santa Cruz is one of the most respected Ecuadorian dive centers. In the Galapagos Islands, this organization controls diving in the central regions.

The heart of the Galapagos is a true diver's paradise for a number of reasons:

• depth;
• ocean currents;
• whirlpools;
• large marine life.

Kanzz is another iconic dive site. We are talking about a reef, which can be reached if you sail a little north of Santiago.

When visiting the archipelago, do not forget to buy souvenir coins as a souvenir - they are very beautiful here and are highly valued by collectors.

Weather

The Galapagos Islands are located on the equator, so the weather here undergoes minor changes.

The average annual air temperature is kept at around +23°C.

There are only two seasons here - the dry season and the summer season.

Galapagos summer falls on December-May. At this time it is quite hot here (+31°С). Warm water: +25°С. Near the islands of Darwin and Wolfe, the ocean temperature reaches + 28 ° С.

December is a rainy and foggy month. The fogs form in highlands and slowly cover the lowlands.

The water temperature ranges from +16°С to +23°С.

Do not neglect a hat and "anti-sun" cream - in the Galapagos you can quickly get burned.

Almost the entire territory of the archipelago is under protection, so tourists should strictly follow the rules for visiting national parks:

1. Walk only on permitted trails and accompanied by a guide from the park service;
2. Take actions that can harm wildlife:
   • make fires,
   • make loud sounds.

Tour prices

It's time to find out about the cost of travel.

We will try to cover not only vouchers and tours, but also some of the costs that an independent tourist will face.

So, what is the price of a vacation in the Galapagos Islands?

• Sea cruise- 2700-6000 dollars.
• Tours to the Galapagos- 2500-6000 dollars.
• Voucher (with a guide who knows Russian)- 3800-5800 dollars.

Tours from Moscow are in the same price range.

In addition to the prices listed here, you will have to pay:

• mandatory fee for entering the reserve ($100);
• medical insurance (it may be included in the cost of the tour).

On the day, the insurance will pull one and a half dollars out of your pocket.

Boats regularly run between the islands, a ticket for which will cost you 25-30 "green".

Prices for group tours range from 80-150 bucks.

Cruise prices local importance differ greatly depending on:

Allow yourself to be happy these days.
Would you like to see the ruins ancient civilization Incas, the price of tours to Machu Picchu will pleasantly surprise you.

A few words about local prices:

• expensive hotels - $100-200 (night);
• cheap housing - up to $50;
• lunch in a cheap cafe - $ 4-5;
• bread — $0.8-1.1;
• apples - $1;
• potatoes - $2-2.5;
• milk - $0.75-0.9;
• mineral water - $ 0.9-1.2;
• wine (middle class) - $ 8-14 per bottle;
• beer — $0.7-1;
• oranges — $0.8;
• cheese - $4.5-5/5.

Galapagos on video

Many people, tired of the hustle and bustle of cities, dream, for a while, to “get lost” on an island in the ocean. This video will show you how to turn your dream into reality.

The Pacific Galapagos Islands, which belong to the Republic of Ecuador, are also called the Turtle Islands, because in Spanish "turtles" are "galapagos". It is not surprising that this particular animal has become a symbol of the archipelago, because a large number of giant sea turtles live here. But, of course, turtles are not the only pride of the islands. There are many plants and animals that can not be found anywhere else, such as the marine iguana, endemic species of seals or the Galapagos fur seal.

So rich natural heritage cannot be left unprotected, because most of the rare animals today are close to extinction. national park The Galapagos includes almost all the islands of the archipelago. The islands are diverse: some of them are covered with dense tropical vegetation, while others have a desert “lunar” landscape.

The Galapagos Islands are amazing and wildlife enthusiasts enjoy visiting these places to observe rare creatures and enjoy wonderful views.

Hispaniola Island

Hispaniola is also known as Hood. Hispaniola was named after Spain. The area of ​​the island is about 60 square kilometers, and the maximum height is 206 meters above sea level.

The age of the island is estimated at 3 and a half million years. This is the most ancient and southernmost island of the entire archipelago. WITH geographic point it is the most classic example of a shield volcano, which was formed by a single caldera in the center of the island. Over time, the island moved away from the hot spot, then the volcano died out, and erosion began.

The remoteness of the island from the main group of islands has contributed to the development of a large number of endemic inhabitants that are adapted exclusively to local natural resources.

The Galapagos albatross, a rare bird species, lives here. The steep and forbidding cliffs of the island are great for taking off these large birds. The hooded mockingbird, a bronze fearless bird, is also endemic to the island.

In addition, guests of the island can meet brightly colored marine iguanas, gulls, lizards, boobies and finches here. And large spacious bays attract a large number of sea lions.

What sights of the Galapagos Islands did you like? There are icons next to the photo, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

Santa Cruz Island

Santa Cruz is the second largest island Galapagos archipelago. On it is located The largest city the Puerto Ayora archipelago, here you can find all the benefits of civilization. But the main attractions of the island, of course, are natural objects, of which there are many on the island, because almost its entire area is occupied by the Galapagos National Park.

There is an amazing place on Santa Cruz: Tortuga Bay, located near Puerto Ayora, which is a long white sand beach, which is characterized by fairly strong waves. It is here that surfers can practice their favorite sport, and swimmers can relax in peace at the end of the beach strip, where there are no surfers anymore. Here you can explore the mangroves, watch mockingbirds, pelicans, marine iguanas or swim with sharks.

In the southwest of the island is the bay of Las Ninfas with calm waters, surrounded by cliffs in tropical greenery, the nearby Bellavista tunnel is known for being inhabited by sea ​​turtles, different types of fish, stingrays and sharks. Generally worthy places detailed description there are many on Santa Cruz Island, but it is better to see them with your own eyes.

Isabella Island. was named after the Queen of Spain. It is the largest island of the Galapagos Islands. The island was discovered by Christopher Columbus.

The area of ​​the island is about 4640 square kilometers, the length is 100 kilometers, and its shape resembles the figure of a sea horse. At the moment, there are five young active volcanoes on the island, of which two are located on the Equator.

The island is very rich in its flora and fauna. It is amazing a nice place! Marine iguanas, penguins, crabs, pelicans, Galapagos tortoises, boobies and other inhabitants live here. From the island you can watch the Galapagos whales, of which there are 16 species.

The local population of the island is only about 2200 people. This area is the most important reserve in the country, because it is here that more than 60 percent of the species of flora and fauna are concentrated.

Volcano Sierra Negra

Sierra Negra - an active volcano on Isabela Island, has a crater with a diameter of 11 kilometers. The height of the volcano is 1124 meters. Tourists are attracted by its size and picturesque landscapes surrounding the volcano.

Sierra Negra is an active volcano last eruption which was in 2005. Volcano has enough big sizes, with a crater striking in its size - a huge funnel with a diameter of 11 kilometers! Tourists are offered to climb and ride along the edge of the crater on horseback, during which you can not only see the crater, but also the birds and animals that inhabit the slopes of the volcano.

Floreana Island

Floreana is an island in the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The island is also known as Santa Maria or Charles Island. It is the sixth largest island in the Galapagos Archipelago. Its area is about 173 square kilometers.

Floreana Island was named after the first president of Ecuador, Juan José Flores, under whose rule the Galapagos Islands came under the jurisdiction of Ecuador. And before that, the island was called Santa Maria in honor of one caravel of Christopher Columbus.

The main attraction of the island is the unusually beautiful pink flamingos, which have chosen the lagoon at Cape Punta Cormorant. Here you can find a beach where large sea turtles lay their eggs.

At Punta Cormorant Point, tourists will find black sandy shores, which, thanks to the inclusions of the mineral peridot, shimmer with green crystals. These inclusions indicate strong volcanic eruptions.

Fernandina Island

Fernandina Island of the Galapagos archipelago is located in the waters Pacific Ocean and was named so in honor of the king of Spain, who supported the great discoverer Columbus in his expedition.

In the very center of the island there is an active volcano La Cumbre, in this regard, a trip along Fernandina poses some threat to tourists. There you can also see a depression formed as a result of the collapse of the top of the volcano, at the bottom of which a volcanic lake shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow. Tourists are not allowed here, so you have to be content with walks along the coast, admiring endless expanses Pacific Ocean.

Flora is not rich, the only thing that can survive in difficult natural conditions laurel cacti, of which there are a great many, and mangroves along the coast.

A pleasant surprise may be a meeting with cormorants, marine iguanas, and, of course, the famous Galapagos penguins. And on the ocean shore, sea lions bask in the rays of the hot sun, sometimes giving their loud voice, capable of blocking the bewitching sound of the surf.

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Santa Fe Island

Santa Fe Island is located in the middle of the Galapagos archipelago, has an area of ​​24 square kilometers. Tourists are attracted by one of the most beautiful bays on the islands and a variety of flora and fauna.

The bay of the island is its main attraction, it is protected from winds and storms and attracts with its clear turquoise waters. Also, tourists can see various animals living on the island and in its waters - sea lions, turtles, rays, iguanas and many others. Walks away from the coastline will also be interesting, where there will be an opportunity to look at various types of cacti and other exotic plants.

The most popular attractions in the Galapagos Islands with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose best places for visiting famous places Galapagos Islands on our website.

More attractions in the Galapagos Islands

Isabella, Fernandina, San Cristobal, San Salvador and Santa Cruz.In addition to the five large islands, there are also 8 other smaller islands and about forty islets and small rocks.Capital of the province of Puerto Baguerizo Moreno Not Big city located on San Cristobal Island.However, the largest city of the archipelago is Puerto Ayora, which is located on the island of Santa Cruz.The total area of ​​the island is about 8,000 square kilometers.

Galapagos archipelago is one of the provinces of Ecuador and its population is about 40,000 people.The Galapagos Islands became famous thanks to the famous scientist Charles Darwin, who visited the islands in the 19th century during a trip that inspired him to create the theory of evolution and natural selection.

They impress with the diversity of the animal world, as well as the beauty of the fauna of the islands. All this arose and exists without the presence of a person, so all living creatures are practically not afraid of a person.The isolation of islands that are far from the continental coast of Ecuador is the main reason for this unique process of evolution.

The inability of large predators to develop on the islands has allowed many animal species to thrive on these islands. That's why Galapagos are home to a large number of endemic and unique animals such as sea lions, native penguins, Galapagos tortoises, Galapagos green turtles, dolphins, Vampire finch, marine iguanas, lava lizards, whales, sharks, etc. There is also a large variety of seabirds such as frigatebirds, flamingos and albatrosses. Galapagos plants also surprises with its diversity, grows on the islands big variety endemic trees, tree ferns, other types of shrubs and flowers. The archipelago has some rare species of cotton, tomatoes, peppers, guava and orchids. underwater life in the Galapagos Islands is also very beautiful. The surrounding waters are home to many species of fish, animals and aquatic plants, so the Galapagos Islands are considered one of.

An important factor in the development of creatures inhabiting is the climate.The Galapagos archipelago has an unusually dry climate for the tropics.There are only two seasons and sea temperatures range from 16ºC (61ºF) to 28ºC (82ºF).This temperature is ideal for endemic animal species.

Galapagos Islands. Flamingo

Fortunately, due to the remoteness of the islands from the continent and active sea communications, the wildlife here is practically not affected and remains the same as Charles Darwin once found it.

Tourists arrive in the Galapagos Islands mainly by plane. The Galapagos is probably the only place on Earth where you can make dive underwater together with a penguin or swim among the sea lions. The Galapagos Islands are one of the planet's most precious treasures and one of the last refuges wildlife in the world.

These wonderful islands were formed about 5 million years ago, as a result of volcanic eruptions. There are still active volcanoes on several islands of the Galapagos archipelago, the most active on the islands of Fernandina and Isabella. Volcanic activity resulting from the interaction between the three tectonic plates, the Pacific Ocean Plate, the Nazca Plate and the Cocos Plate. Due to this constant geological activity, the volcanoes in the Galapagos Islands are among the most active volcanoes in the world.

It is believed that the first people who arrived on the islands were the Chimu Indians, and then the Incas who ruled Peru and all of South America until the beginning of the 16th century. Europeans discovered the islands in 1535 by accident, when Fray Thomas de Berlanga, Bishop of Panama, was on his way to Peru. Once in complete calm, they were carried away by the current to these islands, where they could not find fresh water and restock. Moisture was extracted from prickly pear cacti. The islands were not named at that time, but actually “golopago” is a type of horse saddle, and since the shells of some turtle species are very similar to them, the name of the islands came from here. Prior to this, the archipelago was known as witch islands for some reason, maybe because they are damn beautiful.

Nevertheless, the first map of the islands is considered to be a map compiled by Abraham Ortelius in 1570. On this map the islands appeared with the name "Insulae de los Galopegos". Between the 16th and 18th centuries, the Galapagos were mainly used by pirates as a base for their fishing. In the 19th century, sailors arrived on the islands in search of whales. This barbaric exploitation of the archipelago has brought fur seals and sperm whales to the brink of extinction.

The first scientific studies on the islands were made in 1835 by Charles Darwin, who arrived on the islands aboard the ship "Beagle".This work was used by Darwin as proof of his theory of evolution, which was published in his famous work On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.Darwin noticed that the anatomy of the "mockingbird" differed between different islands, and the same happened with turtles (there are fourteen various kinds turtles in the archipelago).When Darwin returned to England, he analyzed these differences and noticed that they were related to various adaptation processes, which are one of the main pillars in the theory of evolution.

In 1892, the Galapagos were officially named "Archipelago de Colon" in honor of Christopher Columbus.In 1934, Ecuador created the first law to protect the Galapagos Islands.During World War II, the Ecuadorian government allowed the US to establish a naval base in Baltra, one of the Galapagos Islands.The islands have been declared national reserve in 1959, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the publication of Darwin's On the Origin of Species, in the same year a fund was created to ensure the preservation of the ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands and underwater world Around them.

In 1978, the islands were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 2001, the water area around the archipelago was declared a marine reserve.However, despite all the measures to preserve the uniqueness of nature in the Galapagos Islands, there are still many threats to the ecosystem of the archipelago, such as the introduction of alien species of plants and animals. Such as cats, wild goats, cattle, and plants such as avocados, citrus fruits and they have become a threat to the survival of native plant species.

One of the main dangers in the Galapagos Islands are black rats, which mainly eat eggs in nests. Galapagos tortoises, one of the most representative species and one of the rarest. Cattle are an even bigger problem because goats, cows and donkeys eat the island's vegetation, which is the main food of many native animal species. The same problem occurs at sea, as alien fish species have been introduced into the sea around the islands, threatening the existence of endemic fish species. Illegal fishing, as well as the growing number of tourists who visit the Galapagos every year, also pose a certain danger. Because of these threats, by decision of UNESCO in 2007, the islands were included in the list of objects world heritage that are in danger of extinction. Great efforts must be made to ensure that this wonderful and unique ecosystem, one of seven wonders of nature would not be lost forever.