Galapagos - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 / 21
About This Presentation
Title:

Galapagos

Description:

High human influx from mainland Ecuador. ... The islands are owned by the country of Ecuador. ... Since Ecuador is a small and not a wealthy country, the ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:351
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 22
Provided by: scsRic
Category:

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Galapagos


1
Galapagos
  • 2006

2
Islands Born of Fire
  • The Galapagos

3
Galapagos is perhaps the only great natural
paradise remaining in the world in a near
pristine condition.
4
Threats
  • High human influx from mainland Ecuador.
  • The absence of a quarantine system to avoid the
    introduction and dispersal of foreign species.
  • Funds are lacking to protect the islands
  • Illegal fisheries besieging coastal waters.
  • Lack of legal framework to ensure the long term
    preservation of the archipelago

5
Who oversees the Islands?
  • The islands are owned by the country of Ecuador.
  • The Ecuadorian National Park Service provides
    services to the tourists who visit the islands
    each year.
  • Since Ecuador is a small and not a wealthy
    country, the tourism helps with the upkeep and
    protection of the islands.
  • Tourism has taken its toll on the islands and the
    surrounding waters.

6
Profile of Ecuador
  • Area 283,560 sq Km about the size of Colorado
  • Capital City Quito with a population of 1.5
    million. Quayaquil is a coastal city with a
    population of 2.0 million

7
The Galapagos Islands
  • Located about 1000 KM off the west coast of South
    America
  • Cluster of 15 larger islands with several dozen
    smaller islands
  • The islands do not form any part of land mass
    and have never done so.

8
  • Islands made famous by Charles Darwins book,
    Origin of the Species Through Natural Selection
  • The islands are clustered atop a massive
    Submarine Galapagos Plateau.
  • The islands are basaltic oceanic volcanoes
    similar to those in Hawaii.
  • The volcanoes gradually die and erode.

9
  • The oldest islands are those that are very flat
    and close to sea level.
  • The younger islands like Isabela and Fernandina
    still have active volcanoes
  • The islands have not been inhabited by many
    people over the years due to climate..hot..cold..w
    etdry conditions and located a long ways from
    near ports.
  • No deep topsoil conducive to growing food

10
Few Islands have human habitation
  • Santa Cruz and San Cristobal combined have
    populations of about 16,000-20,000 people.
  • Most of these are fishermen, shop keepers
    supporting tourism and National Park personnel ,
    professors at the University on San Cristobal,
    Researchers and Students.

11
  • Santa Cruz Island also houses the Charles Darwin
    Research Facility which deals with collecting
    tortoise eggs hatching and caring for them until
    they can be repatriated to their native
    habitats.

12
  • The islands have been visited by pirates and
    other sailors in passing. They stop and collect
    Tortoise for food and leave goats, dogs, cats,
    rats and other animals on the islands.
  • These alien specie have caused much environmental
    damage to the islands and its native organisms.

13
(No Transcript)
14
(No Transcript)
15
Two very Stately Blue Footed Bobbies
16
Back on Deck we begin to cool down, relax and
enjoy a beautiful sunset after our first day on
the Islands.
17
A view of the Pacific from Espanola Island. This
Island has many beautiful vistas.
18
One has to watch his/her step as the area is
covered with nests, lava lizards, iguanas,
mocking birds, tropic birds.
19
An Iguana is digging a nest to lay eggs.
20
A Blowhole
21
Protection of these Islands is everyones
responsibility.
  • Despite tourism, pollution, wild goats, dogs,
    rats, and pirates the islands have survived about
    5 million years.
  • It will take lots of education, proactive
    political action, and funding to protect these
    islands.
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com