The Galapagos Islands are found 1000 kilometres (600 miles) off the west coast of Ecuador, South America. The archipelago is made up of 13 large islands, 6 smaller islands and 107 rocks and islets. The very first island is thought to have formed between 5 and 10 million years ago, as a result of tectonic activity. The youngest islands, Isabela and Fernandina, are still being formed, with the most recent volcanic eruption in 1998.
CLIMATE
The climate of the Galapagos Islands is unique because the islands lie across the equator and they are a long distance from another land mass. This means that the climate is affected by the ocean currents around the islands. Some of the larger islands have trees, while others are barren areas of lava. The Galapagos Islands have two main seasons: a cool dry season between July and December, and a warm wet season between January and June.
CONSERVATION LAWS
The Galapagos Islands contain many endemic (only found in Galapagos) animals, plants, and insects. To protect these species, the first laws were passed in 1934 by the Ecuadorian Government. In 1959 the Galapagos National Park was created. The park covers 97% of the area of the islands. In 1978, the Galapagos Islands were one of the earliest natural areas in the world to be called a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation). In 1964 the Charles Darwin Research Station was built on Santa Cruz island in Galapagos, and scientists now come from all over the world to study the plants and animals, and help to conserve them. In 1998, the ocean around the Galapagos Islands was made a Marine Reserve, to protect the remarkable marine life, such as the hammerhead shark and the Galapagos penguin (the only penguin to live near the equator!). The Special Law for Galapagos was passed in 1999 to give even more protection for the islands.
THREATS TO THE WILDLIFE
There are many threats to the plants and animals of the Galapagos Islands:
- Illegal or excessive fishing
- Introduced plants and animals (species that are not native to Galapagos) such as goats and pigs that compete for food with native species such as the giant tortoise
- The growing human population on the islands (now about 16,000) and the increasing numbers of tourists (about 60,000 people per year visit the islands)
- Pollution and littering
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At the Charles Darwin Research Station, a breeding centre raises baby iguanas and tortoises just hatched from their eggs, until they are old enough to survive out in the wild.