Are The Galapagos Islands A Tropical Rainforest?

Despite being in a

tropical region

of the world, the Galapagos Islands don’t have the same tropical heat as you would expect.

Are the Galapagos Islands considered tropical?

Environmental conditions make the Galápagos a unique island ecosystem. The Galápagos Islands are located near the equator, yet they receive cool ocean currents. This makes for a strange

mix of tropical and temperate climates

.

What type of biome is the Galapagos Islands?

Lying in the Pacific dry belt most of the land in the archipelago is covered by

arid, semi-desert xerophytic vegetation

. Only a small percentage of the islands reach the higher elevations where more rainfall is concentrated, yielding a more lush, tropical vegetation types.

Why is Galapagos not tropical?

The weather of the Galápagos Islands is influenced by three

main ocean currents

and, to a lesser extent, by four other ocean currents. … The cold Humboldt and Cromwell currents cool the Galápagos Islands, and keep them from being the tropical islands one would expect to find at the equator.

What type of climate does the Galapagos Islands have?

The Galapagos Islands Climate

The climate of the Islands can best be described as

subtropical

. There is, however, some variation driven mainly by the ocean currents. December to May can be best described as the warm season. This period brings a unique mixture of warmth, rain, and sun.

How warm is it in the Galapagos Islands?

The islands are located on the equator and the weather does not change significantly throughout the year, though there are seasonal variations. Galapagos temperature ranges from

lows in the 60’s Fahrenheit (16 Celsius) to highs in the 90’s Fahrenheit (32 Celsius)

.

What makes the Galapagos Islands Unique?

The Galapagos Islands are uniquely located on both sides of the equator in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The islands are situated at a point in the Pacific Ocean where three ocean currents collide, creating a unique area in the

sea where warm and varying degrees of cold water meet

.

What is the terrain of the Galapagos Islands?

The Galapagos Islands are formed

of lava piles and dotted with shield volcanoes

, many of which are periodically active. The striking ruggedness of the arid landscape is accentuated by high volcanic mountains, craters, and cliffs.

Is there Freshwater on the Galapagos Islands?

Although

fresh water is not very visible in Galapagos

, it is found in several places (underground, crevices, and streambeds) and is indispensable for all forms of life. Historically, Galapagos residents barely survived, having to search for water (rainwater, brackish water, and springs).

What tectonic plate is the Galapagos Islands on?

Galapagos is located on

the Nazca tectonic plate

.

This perpetually moving plate is heading eastward over the Galapagos hot spot and has formed the chain of islands.

How warm is the water in the Galapagos?

Average annual water temperature on the coast in Galapagos Islands is

75°F

, by the seasons: in winter 73°F, in spring 72°F, in summer 76°F, in autumn 78°F.

Is it safe to go to the Galapagos Islands?

Is the Galapagos Safe To Visit?

The Galapagos is an extremely safe travel destination

. very little crime occurs in the islands and because tourism plays an important role in the economy of the islands and the Galapagos National Park, strict rules are in place when it comes to migrating to the islands.

Do humans live on the Galapagos Islands?

Where do people live in Galapagos and how is the population growing?

Only four of the archipelago’s thirteen major islands have human populations

: Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela and Floreana.

Is the water in the Galapagos cold?

Surface Water Temperature:

71°F – 74 °F

The waters of the Galapagos are influenced by the Humboldt Current that brings cold water to the islands, especially during the mist or Garua season (cool, dry weather) from June to December.

Does it snow in the Galapagos?

On average,

February is the wettest month

with 4.33 inch (110.0 mm) of precipitation. … On average, September is the driest month with 0.31 inch (8.0 mm) of precipitation.

What is the weather like in the Galápagos Islands in July?

Gorgeously Mild Weather

When it comes to the Islands weather, July is an excellent time to visit the Galapagos. The

average air temperatures hover between 68°—79° F (20° —26°C)

, a mild and comfortable range that’s perfect for hiking, adventuring throughout the Islands, or simply lying out in the sunshine.

What does the word Galapagos mean?

: tortoise specifically : one of the very large

land tortoises

of the Galápagos islands.

Why is the Galapagos Islands a World Heritage Site?

The Galapagos Islands are UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the fact that

they serve as an emblem of a pristine ecosystem that is thriving with countless unique creatures

– many of which are found nowhere else in the world!

Can you scuba dive in the Galapagos?

Typically, diving the Galapagos archipelago is more appropriate for advanced divers, those who feel comfortable in deeper waters with varying currents and conditions. The Galapagos Islands offer

drift dives

, deep dives, reef dives, and, of course, the famous hammerhead shark dives.

What does the Spanish word Galapagos mean in English?

Galapagos is an old Spanish word meaning

saddle

. When Spanish sailors arrived on the islands off the coast of Equator, the turtle shells or tortoises reminded them of sway back saddles.

Why are the Galapagos Islands protected?

Due to the fragility of

their stunning flora and fauna

– some of which has been gravely affected by unchecked human activities during past decades – measures were taken by the Ecuadorian Government and the Galapagos National Park (GNP) to help life in the islands recover while maintaining sustainable travel in the …

Why are the Galapagos Islands important to the theory of evolution?

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 is the geographical location of the Galapagos Islands?

Situated right on the Equator, the Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands that are distributed on either side of the Equator and surrounds the center of the Western Hemisphere. It is located

906 km west of continental Ecuador

.

What are the Galapagos islands called?

According to the Republic of Ecuador, the official name of the Galapagos Islands is

the “Archipiélago de Colón” or the Archipelago of Columbus.

Which continent are the Galapagos Islands off?

Situated in the Pacific Ocean some 1,000 km from the

South American continent

, these 19 islands and the surrounding marine reserve have been called a unique ‘living museum and showcase of evolution’.

Does Galapagos have lakes?

El

Junco

Lagoon is a lake in the highlands of San Cristóbal Island in the Galápagos Islands. … Despite the name, it is a volcanic crater lake rather than a lagoon.

Which natural process created the Galapagos Island?

The Galapagos Islands were formed millions of years ago by

volcanic activity

. Discover how tectonic shifts created the islands and how deep below the sea, organisms thrive in the vicinity of hydrothermal vents.

What type of beginning did the Galapagos island have?

In geologic years, the Galapagos Islands are

infants

. Located on the perpetually moving Nazca tectonic plate, the islands were formed through repeated volcanic activity. Layer by layer, the islands have risen off the ocean floor, forming a chain that is approximately five million years old.

What is wrong with the Galapagos Islands?

The Galapagos Islands face many environmental threats. Ecosystem degradation could be caused by:

climate change, deforestation, pollution, overfishing, eutrophication

and the introduction of invasive species.

Where do people live on Galapagos?

People live on only 5 of the 19 islands of the Galápagos:

Baltra, Floreana, Isabela, San Cristobal and Santa Cruz

. Puerto Ayora is the biggest town, where about 10,000 people live. Puerto Ayora is on Santa Cruz Island. The second biggest town is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal with about 5,600 people.

Is Galapagos a volcano?

The Galápagos Islands are

an isolated set of volcanoes

, consisting of shield volcanoes and lava plateaus, located 1,200 km (746 mi) west of Ecuador.

What is the Galapagos flag?

The flag of Galápagos islands is

green over white over blue tricolor

. Galápagos is a province since 1973, before it was a territory. This flag is probably the flag hoisted for the San Cristobal Republic, proclaimed on the island of San Cristobal in 1851.

Can I move to the Galapagos Islands?

Galapagos is not accepting any new permanent residents

. In 1998, a law was passed granting permanent residence to anyone who had lived there for five years, or who did from that point on. … Now, only those who marry or are born to residents can get permanent residency.

Can you swim in the Galapagos Islands?

The Galapagos have some of the best

beaches

in the world.

Many locations are great for beach snorkeling as well. From December to May, it is very warm and sunny in the islands, making it ideal for swimming in the comfortable shallow waters.

Does it rain a lot in the Galapagos?

Galapagos climate is characterized by rain clouds that form when the inversion layer breaks down, and the air warms and rises, resulting in daily afternoon showers. Even in this season; however,

the low elevations receive only limited rain

.

Does Galapagos have hotels?

Hotels In Galapagos:

A:

All of the inhabited islands of Galapagos have hotels

. The majority of the hotels are located on Santa Cruz Island in Puerto Ayora, followed by San Cristobal Island in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Isabela Island in Puerto Villamil, and finally Floreana Island in Puerto Velasco Ibarra.

Is Galapagos expensive?

Galapagos is not a cheap destination and traveling on the cheap is very much not recommended.

The Galapagos Islands are more expensive than mainland Ecuador

mainly because of their location and the logistics of maintaining tourism sustainability and helping community development.

Can you visit the Galapagos Islands Covid?

Travelers 16 and

older must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR

, a maximum of 72 hours prior to boarding the aircraft to the Galapagos, counting from the time the sample was taken, before entering the Galapagos and present a vaccination card showing the traveler received a complete series of the COVID-19 …

Are there poisonous snakes in the Galapagos?

Galapagos snakes are all endemic to Galapagos. There are five different species and all of them inhabit the dry zones of the islands, however they do not inhabit all of the Galapagos islands. …

Galapagos Snakes can be slightly poisonous to humans

and may use venom to kill its prey.

What is the warmest month in the Galapagos?

January through April

are the hottest months, with average temperatures getting above 78∘F (26∘C). The tropical Galapagos season reaches its peak in mid-March, after which time the cool water currents and southeast trade winds slowly return the islands to the cool, dry season.

What is the coldest month in Galapagos?