| Galapagos | 3 Aug 2008 12:00 AM |
| Galapagos Natural History Tour by Administrator | Comment (0) |
Galapagos Overview1
San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands
The Enchanted Isles
Introduction:
The Galapagos Archipelago is a group of volcanic islands 600 miles
off the coast of Ecuador. The Galapagos Islands were formed as a result
of the Pacific plate moving over a volcanic hotspot. Each eruption
created a buildup of lava and ash that formed islands when they broke
the surface. The oldest islands are around 5 million years old and the
youngest islands are still being formed.
The Galapagos Islands are located at the point of contact of three
currents: the cold water Humboldt Current which flows north from
Antarctica, the warm water Panama Current, which flows south, and the
eastern flowing Cromwell undercurrent. These currents regulate the
climate on the islands. Galapagos has two main seasons, the rainy
season and garua. During the rainy season it is hot and sunny during
the day with heavy rainfall in the afternoon. The rainy season lasts
from January until June. Between July and November the season is
called Garua. Garua is Spanish for mist, and is a fitting name for the
dense mists that collect over the archipelago. The garua results when
warm air masses move over the cool Humboldt Current, causing moisture
to condense out of the atmosphere. During El Niño years, the garua is
replaced by heavy rainfall. Even during the warmth of day, the mist
persists at high elevations, although lower elevations may be dry.
The Galapagos Islands and Marine Reserve contain a unique combination of land and oceanic ecosystems, with many distinct habitats and communities to be found in each. The Galapagos are situated at the point where major ocean currents meet, and the islands straddle the junctions between several shifting tectonic plates. These circumstances combine to make an area that truly is like no other place on earth.
Galapagos is one of the best-conserved tropical oceanic archipelagos in the world. Species that have adapted successfully to a barren and inhospitable landscape often occupy a unique niche in that ecosystem, and have little competition for food, water and space. The introduction of a new species into such simple ecosystems can have rapid and far-reaching effects.
The Galapagos Islands are situated on the equator and about 1000 km off the Pacific coast of Ecuador. Galapagos is comprised of 14 major islands, more than 120 smaller islets and rocks, and the surrounding ocean. The total land mass is almost 8,000 sq. km and the Galapagos Marine Reserve surrounding the archipelago is 138,000 sq. km. The present islands are all younger than 4 million years and were formed separately from other land masses as a result of volcanic eruptions.
Humans — both residents and tourists — have become part of the Galapagos ecosystem, as have many species of plant and animal that have been introduced by humans to the islands. One of the challenges Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) faces, as do all those involved in protecting and conserving Galapagos, is how best to integrate the needs of the human population whilst limiting our impact on this unique part of the world. Environmental, economic and social sustainability cannot be separated.
In 1959, the Ecuadorian government set aside 1,714,000 acres (693,700 ha), 90% of the Galapagos Islands as a National Park. All the lands not already included in the settlement areas were designated and incorporated into the park. In 1967 a park service was set up in the islands and 5 years later the first park superintendent arrived.
1. No plant, animal, or remains of such (including shells, bones, and pieces of wood), or other natural objects should not be removed or disturbed.
2. Be careful not to transport any live material to the islands, or from island to island.
3. Do not take any food to the uninhabited islands, for the same reason.
4. Do not touch or handle the animals.
5. Do not feed the animals. It can be dangerous to you, and in the long run would destroy the animals' social structure and breeding habits.
6. Do not startle or chase any animal from its resting or nesting spot.
7. Stay within the areas designated as visiting sites.
8. Do not leave any litter on the islands, or throw any off your boat.
9. Do not deface the rocks.
10. Do not buy souvenirs or objects made of plants or animals from the islands.
11. Do not visit National Park areas unless accompanied by a licensed National Park Guide.
12. Restrict your visits to officially approved areas.
13. Show your conservationist attitude.
1 Taken from www.darwinfoundation.org/ and www.galapagosonline.com/nathistory/nationalpark/nationalpark.htm
Galapagos Travel Log
Day 1 - 6/6/08
We had a late evening introductory welcome meeting led by our Fundación Jatun Sacha travel guides, Christopher James and Carina Holguín, before bed at the Hotel Alston in Quito. The travel group consists of: me, twelve high school students, age 15-17 and their two teacher chaperones from a pre-collegiate private high school in Norfolk, Virginia.
I will be leaving for the Galapagos Islands on June 4th to kiss marine iguanas, Galapagos tortoises and red, blue and green footed Boobies, among others! Kiss pictures will be posted in the first week of July. How do you exactly approach and ask a marine iguana for a kiss? Think about it! My answer later.
How do you kiss a banana slug? Very gently and on the head-end of it’s body where its large pair of tentacle "eyestalks", used to detect light or movement, are located.! But first you need to find one. They like to spend most of their time in moist tree litter on forest floors along North America's Pacific coastal coniferous rainforest belt from Washington to California. 
