The Islands
Their History
Other
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Where are the Galapagos Islands?
The Galapagos Islands are located on the equator some 600 miles from the coast of Ecuador, South America.
Who do they belong to?
The Galapagos Archipelago is a province of the Republic of Ecuador.
How many islands are in the archipelago?
The Galapagos archipelago consists of 13 large islands (5 of which are inhabited), and more than 100 smaller islands and islets.
How big is Galapagos?
Galapagos has a land area of about 5,000 square miles. The Galapagos Marine Reserve covers about 50,000 square miles.
What is the population of Galapagos?
The Galapagos Islands remained sparsely populated until the 1980s. At that time, poor economic conditions in mainland Ecuador, a boom in fishing for exotic species, and increasing demands of tourism resulted in a rapid growth in the resident population. Today, about 28,000 people live on three inhabited islands.
What is the climate like?
The climate is considered to be cool and sub-tropical, with hot, arid coastal zones and cooler, humid highland areas. The highlands receive moisture year-round, which supports lush vegetation.
The confluence of four major ocean currents in Galapagos determines the temperature on land and in the sea. There are two seasons and Galapagos gets an average of ten inches of rainfall per year.
| |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Average High
(°F) |
84 |
86 |
88 |
86 |
82 |
78 |
76 |
74 |
76 |
77 |
78 |
80 |
Average Low
(°F) |
70 |
74 |
74 |
72 |
72 |
68 |
66 |
64 |
62 |
64 |
66 |
68 |
Water Temp.
(°F) |
74 |
76 |
76 |
76 |
74 |
74 |
72 |
66 |
68 |
70 |
72 |
74 |
| Average Rainfall (in.) |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1.5 |
.75 |
.25 |
.50 |
.25 |
.50 |
.25 |
.50 |
.50 |
When were the Galapagos Islands discovered?
They were discovered in 1535 by Fray Tomás de Berlanda, the Bishop of Panama while he was traveling to Peru. He noted the tortoises, iguanas, and birdlife first and foremost. When the islands appeared on maps for the first time (around 1570), they were actually called “ Islands of the Tortoises.”
When was Galapagos colonized?
Pirates and renegades first inhabited the islands during the early 1500s. They would hide and camp out on the islands after raiding Spanish colonial ports. In 1832, the islands were officially annexed by Ecuador. The first colony was established on the island of Floreana. The archipelago experienced many attempted settlements from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century by individuals from Norway, the US, and the UK.
 Who was Charles Darwin?
Charles Darwin (left)was a biologist and naturalist who visited the Galapagos Islands in 1835 aboard the H.M.S Beagle. During his travels, he studied and observed the plants and animals on the islands. He later used these findings to publish his most famous work, Origin of Species, which remains central to modern evolutionary and philosophical thought.
Who is Lonesome George? 
Lonesome George (right) is a Galapagos Giant Tortoise from Pinta Island in Galapagos. He is the only known remaining tortoise of his species. Lonesome George currently lives at the Charles Darwin Research Station on the island of Santa Cruz. He is accompanied by two females from a closely related species in an attempt - unsuccessful, to date - to entice him to breed.
How can I help?
Please consider joining more than 11,000 members of Galapagos Conservancy who help ensure a positive future for Galapagos through their financial contributions and vocal support of Galapagos conservation.
Where does my $100 entry fee go?
The Park entry fee collected upon a visitor’s arrival to Galapagos is used to help fund Park management and community and conservation projects in the islands. The beneficiaries are as follows: Galapagos National Park Service (40%), Municipal Governments (20%), The Galapagos Provincial Board (10%), Galapagos Marine Reserve (5%), the National System for Protected Areas (5%), the National Galapagos Institute (10%), the Quarantine and Inspection System (5%) and the Ecuadorian Navy (5%).
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