The cool climate in Quito and other areas in the Andes usually merits a jacket. Snow rarely falls even at these high altitudes. The only glimpse of snow most Ecuadorians have ever had is of the snow capped peaks of 20,000+ feet (6,096m), which are covered in snow year round. What is the coldest it […]
What is the relative location of the Galapagos Islands?
The Galapagos Islands are part of Ecuador although they lie in the Pacific Ocean about 960 km to the west of mainland South America. Where is Galapagos Islands located? EcuadorThe Galápagos Islands are a chain of islands, or archipelago, in the eastern Pacific Ocean. They are part of the country of Ecuador, in South America. […]
What is the ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands?
On the Galapagos Islands, there are three major ecosystems: terrestrial, coastal and marine. In the years of El Niño, the ecosystems show their characteristic behaviours. In the terrestrial zone predominate heavy rains, which has a positive effect on the animals and plants in this zone. What is the environment of the Galapagos Islands like? The […]
How big are Galapagos sharks?
The Galapagos shark reaches a maximum length of 330 cm (11 ft). Male individuals mature at lengths of 2.1-2.4 m (6.9-7.5 ft.) while females mature at 2.2-2.5 m (7.2-8.2 feet) in length. How big can Galapagos sharks get? One of the largest species in its genus, the Galapagos shark commonly reaches 3.0 m (9.8 ft) […]
Is Quito higher than La Paz?
La Paz, Bolivia, seen here at dusk, has a higher altitude than any other capital city in the world. La Paz of Bolivia is one of the world’s most beautiful locales.The Highest Capital Cities in the World. Rank City Altitude (Meters/Feet) 1 La Paz, Bolivia 3640/11942 2 Quito, Ecuador 2850/9350 3 Thimphu, Bhutan 2648/8688 4 […]
What were Darwin’s observations on the Galapagos Islands?
His discoveries on the islands were paramount to the development of his Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. On the islands, Charles Darwin discovered several species of finches. Thanks to his close observations, he discovered that the different species of finches varied from island to island. What did Darwin observe on the Galapagos Islands? From […]
How have the Galapagos Islands changed over time?
In Galapagos, the Earth’s crust is moving from west to east over the hot spot. Therefore, the islands that are furthest to the east, such as San Cristóbal, are the oldest: they were formed many thousands of years ago. Because these older islands are no longer over the hot spot, they are no longer volcanically […]
Why does Galapagos have so many animals?
The Galápagos are located at the confluence of several currents including the cold Humboldt Current traveling north from South America and the Panama Current traveling south from Central America make the islands cooler and provide the perfect environment for the unique mix of wildlife that inhabits the islands. How did the Galapagos end up with […]
Is Quito in the Southern Hemisphere?
The Quito area is also the only place in the world where you can put one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and the other one in the Southern Hemisphere … at the same time! Is Quito north or south of the Equator? The central square of Quito is located about 25 km (16 mi) south […]
Is Galapagos inhabited by humans?
The Galapagos is an archipelago of 19 islands in the Pacific Ocean.Each island has its own unique landscapes, wildlife and activities, and only five of them are actually inhabited by people. Small communities are dotted across San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Isabela, Floreana and Baltra. Do humans live on Galapagos? Where do people live in Galapagos […]
Is there Zika in Galapagos Islands?
Galapagos’ terrain is simply so isolated that it rarely ever sees mosquitoes. Thus, there have been no reported cases of Zika in recent years. Is Ecuador Zika free? Ecuador has a history of previous Zika Virus transmission. There is currently no evidence of an ongoing Zika Virus outbreak. However, there is limited information available and […]
How did tortoises and birds differ among the islands of the Galapagos?
How did tortoises and birds differ among the islands of the Galapagos? The tortoises on the Galapagos Islands all had different shaped shells; therefore they were different species of the same category of tortoises.The birds on the Galapagos Island also had slight variations. How did the finches the birds differ among the islands of the […]
Why are the Galapagos Islands famous?
The islands are known for their famously fearless wildlife and as a source of inspiration for Darwin’s theory of evolution. And that’s just part of the story. Born of fire: The Galápagos Archipelago is one the most volcanically active areas in the world. What is so special about the Galapagos Islands? The Galápagos Islands are […]
How did the Galapagos tortoise evolve?
All species of Galápagos tortoises evolved from common ancestors that arrived from mainland South America by overwater dispersal. Genetic studies have shown that the Chaco tortoise of Argentina and Paraguay is their closest living relative. When did Galápagos tortoises evolve? two to three million years agoTortoise evolution and taxonomy Scientists believe that Galápagos tortoises migrated […]
What kind of special adaptations do the animals and plants of the Galapagos have?
Because there were no large predators on these two Galapagos Islands, having wings was a disadvantage that prevented them from finding food easily. They’re wings therefore adapted to be smaller while they developed powerful legs and webbed feet to dive into the water to hunt for fish, eels and small octopus. What kind of special […]