Galapagos Islands that Changed the World

The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed on both sides of the equator in the Pacific Ocean, extention 906 km (563 miles) to the west of the South American continent. The Galapagos archipelago consists of 13 main island and 6 small islands, and includes 50,000 square kilometers (19,500 square miles) of ocean. The water surrounding the Galapagos Islands form the Ecuadorian area, park and national reserves and marine biodiversity area. The main language of the islands is Spanish. Islands have a population of more than 25,000 people. These islands famous Bahtoaúhm on the huge number of endemic species that Charles Darwin studied during the trip from the Beagle. And contributed to his remarks at the start of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.

Climate
Galapagos Islands is characterized by variable climate significantly, which affects the mainland Ecuador. There are two seasons in the islands: hot / rainy season heat season, from December to June, rising humidity and an average temperature to the 80s F (26 ° -30 ° C). From June to November, you can expect a cold wind, which relate in some cases with a light haze of spray called "garúa" type. The average temperatures 70s F (20 ° -24 ° C) during the day and less at night.
Climatic fluctuations occur every month uniquely, allowing for watching wildlife. From December to May is the best time (peak season) to enjoy the tours, and that's when the seas become calmer and warmer weather. But during the summer months of June, July and August, they are also popular with large animals and be more active. September to November is usually fall season when most of the boats to the islands dry leaves. Peak for divers period is from July to November



Climate change whenever height increased in Big Island. Temperatures gradually decreases with height, while increasing rainfall as a result of condensation of moisture in the clouds on the slopes. There is a wide range in rainfall from one place to another, and not only with the rise, depending on the location of the islands, and also with the seasons.



The history of the Galapagos Islands
The first recorded visit to the islands occurred by chance in 1535, when the Bishop of Panama Fry Thomas de Berlanga went to Peru to arbitration in a dispute between Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro. Been de Berlanga blow off course, although he eventually returned to the Spanish Empire and described the islands and the animals that inhabit conditions. A group of islands has shown in Abraham Ortelius atlas published in 1570. And provided the first map of the islands in 1684 by the pirate Ambrose Cowley, who was appointed the individual islands after some of his fellow pirates or from some of the British royal family and nobles. These names were used in navigational charts of the islands reliable and prepared during survey Beagle under Captain Robert Fitzroy, and in the book Darwin on his journey from the Beagle. I took the new Republic of Ecuador for the islands of the Spanish monarchy in 1832, and then gave them the official Spanish names. The old names have remained in use in the English language publications, including Herman Melville in Encantadas 1854.



Demographics
Galapagos Islands is one of the few places in the world without the presence of the indigenous population. The largest ethnic group is made up of Ecuador's mestizo, the mixed and grandchildren of the Spanish colonizers and the Red Indians of the indigenous population, who arrived mainly in the last century from the continental part of Ecuador. There are also a large number of eggs, and most of them Hispanics. As there are still some descendants of European colonists and Americans on the islands in the islands.
In 1959, there were approximately 1,000 to 2,000 people in the islands. In 1972, the census recorded in the archipelago with a population of 3488, and estimates put the population in 2006 to about 25,000 people. In 2010 there were 25124 people in the Galapagos Islands. There are five inhabited islands of the population, are: Baltra, Floreana, Isabela, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz.



Travel
Control options in the Galapagos Islands are limited to two islands. San Cristobal and Baltra. There is a private jet used to gain access to these islands. Seymour Airport was renovated in recent (2012-2013) to accommodate large aircraft.



There are wild hotels on inhabited islands of San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Floreana and Isabela. Since 2012, made more than half of the visitors to the Galapagos tours and accommodation with daily boat in small hotels, with eating in restaurants. Tours are still the best way to see all the complex environment and wildlife in the islands.



There are only 116 visitor sites in the Galapagos Islands: 54 land sites and 62 dive sites or diving. It allows small groups to visit in 2-4 hours with shifts only, to reduce the impact on the region. Accompanied by licensed guides for each group.