Galapagos is named after its tortoises. However, research suggests that blue-footed booby populations in the Galapagos have suffered large declines in recent years, with an estimated population of just 6,400 birds in 2012. For example, saddleback shells allow the tortoise to reach food found higher off the ground, like leaves on tall bushes. ), weird history, desert-like vegetation (in the tropics! Click for more kids facts and information or download the worksheet collection. The Scalesia is one of the few trees in the Aster Family and can grow to heights 16-50 feet (5-15 metres). Charles Robert Darwin (12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist.He was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.He is famous for his work on the theory of evolution.. His book On the Origin of Species (1859) did two things. Each island hosts marine iguanas of unique size, shape and color. With more than 400 species of fish and an abundance of wildlife in the Galapagos, there is certainly plenty to see. Publishing news and facts, re-imagined and written for kids. Learn Galapagos Islands facts with NatGeo Expeditions. They've captivated visitors since Charles Darwin visited in 1835, but how much do you really know? Facts about the Galapagos Islands to sparkle your curiosity about extraordinary wildlife and the evidence of evolution: 1; The Galapagos Islands named after tortoises. Their feathers of the mantle are partially edged with paler brown, grey, or buff, with their white bases showing to some extent. Beginning in the 1960s, tourism and new fisheries brought more settlers. Place. The group of islands consists of 18 main islands, 3 small islands, and 107 rocks and islets. ), hauntingly beautiful scenery and interesting geology. The Galápagos Islands are home to animals and plants found nowhere else on Earth. Why? 5 Galapagos Islands Facts to Get Your Kids Excited About Science. One example of this is the Kansai Airport in Japan which sits on a manmade island. The size of the hawk can range from 45 to 58 cm. Children’s Coloring Books for the Galapagos Islands. February 14, 2020 by MT Sobek. The Galapagos Islands are surrounded by a marine resources reserve and are part of the Ecuador National Park. Some islands are manmade. The Galapagos Islands are regarded the world over as a unique destination, originally made famous by scientific explorer Charles Darwin in the mid-1800s. Fun Facts about Islands of the World. Galapagos has one of the world's rarest ecosystems in which the herbivores at the top of the food chain are reptiles. Adult Galapagos hawks are generally sooty brownish-black in color with the crown being slightly blacker than the back. Coat of arms: Divided in four, with representative images of the islands, such as volcanic cones, the blue sea, a sail boat, and of course the iconic Galapagos tortoise. NG KiDS heads across the Pacific Ocean to meet the amazing creatures of the Galápagos Islands… Cruising along in our panga (a motorised dinghy), we scour the Pacific Ocean, looking for life. Yet there are many fascinating facts about the Galapagos Islands that some people may be unaware of either before, or perhaps even after their visit. The Galapagos hawk is a large rare raptor native to the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos Islands nearest mainland, Ecuador, lies 600 miles (970 kilometres) to the East. Galapagos Swallow-tailed gulls are the only gulls in the world to feed at night . This beautiful bird is known for its fearlessness towards humans. Threats: In the 1960s, the Galapagos Islands were home to almost half of the world’s breeding population of blue-footed boobies, with a population of around 20,000 breeding birds. These are the best places for kid-friendly sights & landmarks in Galapagos Islands: Rancho Primicias; Santa Cruz Fish Market; San Cristobal Interpretation Center; Isabela Island Wetlands Complex; Malecon de Puerto Ayora; See more sights & landmarks for kids in Galapagos Islands on Tripadvisor To our right, way in the distance, we glimpse the dorsal fin of a 15-m-long Bryde’s whale , while only metres away a pelican dives spectacularly into the sea to catch a fish. Facts For Kids; People & Places; Kinooze Learning. As its name suggests, it resides in the Galapagos Islands – and while there are thought to be 15 different types of tortoise in its lineage, only 11 of them remain. 19 Galapagos Islands Animals You Need to See. Located in the Pacific Ocean about 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are truly a sight to be seen. The Galapagos Tomato, endemic to the islands is a salt resistant tomato that has been used to create a hybrid, which is capable of growing in salty soil around the world. Ninety-seven percent of the islands are a national park and half of the land species (and one fifth of the marine species) are endemic to the Galapagos. One of the most magical, real life places on earth for children is the Galapagos Islands.The archipelago, located nearly 600 miles off of the coast of Ecuador, are blessed with a plethora of wonderful wildlife (under water, on land and in the air! The Galapagos Islands are home to the world's largest cormorant and the only one unable to fly. Active Volcanos; If you want to get kids into science then talk to them about volcanos. miles) of land. 2. The Galapagos boasts the world`s largest and only red-footed booby colony. When their pups are born they flee to shallow waters to gain strength and also to avoid being eaten by their parents! Sign up to the “Monthly Newsletter” and updates HERE. When we think of Penguins, the equator is not the first place we’d think to find them. The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands located 563 miles (906 km) directly west of Ecuador. Here are some coloring book options to learn more about the person and animals of the Galapagos Islands. The babies were so tiny! However, there is a species of penguin that lives exclusively in the tropics, where the climate is warm and entirely different from the habitats of the larger species. Galapagos Islands Facts: Lesson for Kids. The Galapagos hawk is an apex predator with excellent vision. When we were in the Galapagos, we saw both young and old sally lightfoot crabs. The word “Galapagos” comes from the old Spanish word “galapago,” which the original explorers used to mean “saddle” due to the shape of the tortoise's shells. The Galapagos Islands are a living laboratory of evolution and helped inspire Charles Darwin. You can see so many of them right outside your hotel room or in town – which is one of the things that makes the Galapagos so special: the almost seamless blending of everyday life and wild animals. Interesting Facts About the Galapagos Islands. Grab your poncho and saddle up - the Andean highlands await you! Not only are they fascinating, but they will also appeal to a chid’s imagination. Read our top 10 interesting facts about the UNESCO awarded Galapagos Islands. Scalesia Zone. The reptile is found in many places in the archipelago; with colonies at the end of Tortuga Bay on Santa Cruz, Fernandina and Isabela Islands. Related posts Who was Charles Darwin? On desert islands, the tortoises are smaller and are able to survive on less food. Kinooze Learning. The adults of this species generally have a sooty brownish color. Each of the 13 larger islands in the Galápagos Islands has a different subspecies of the giant tortoise, uniquely suited for survival on that particular island’s habitat. Galapagos Sharks The Galapagos Shark can grow up to ten feet long and can swim at depths up to 200 ft. Since his initial visit to the archipelago, countless tourists have visited these remarkable shores. Java is the world's most populated island with over 130 million people. Your chances of seeing a Galapagos sea lion are pretty good because they rarely travel more than 16 km away from the shore. Ecuador on Horseback: Riding in the Andes Duration: 6 - 9 days Highlights: Quito - World Heritage Site, Antisanilla Reserve, Spectacled bears, Papallacta, Bird watching, Hacienda La Alegría, Charga culture, Riding through the cloud forest, Machachi Valley, Optional: Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos Islands are a top destination choice because they’re educational, interesting and fun. A fun way to learn about places is to color them. The islands were made from volcanoes, and volcanoes are still making the islands of Isabela and Fernandina today. 5 Interesting Facts About the Galapagos Islands You May Not Know. See more ideas about Galapagos, Galapagos islands, Snake coloring pages. 9) They stay relatively close to shore. Home » faq » 110 Fun Facts about the Galapagos Islands. The islands were discovered in 1535, but were vacant of humans until the 1800s due to their inhospitable terrain. The Galapagos Islands make a wonderful place to visit, and many people each year take a Galapagos Islands cruise or land-based Galapagos tour to get to see the wildlife and enjoy the unusual volcanic scenery. The most recent volcanic eruption was Cerro Azul in May 2008 on Isabela Island. The Galápagos Islands are on the equator, 973 km (604 miles) from Ecuador in South America.There are 19 islands with a total of 8,010 square km (3,093 sq. First, it provided a great deal of evidence that evolution has taken place. Official name: “Archipiélago de Colón,” mostly known as the Spanish name ‘Islas Galápagos’, but also known as the Enchanted Islands. There are some fascinating facts we all should know about this enchanting place and its sensitive ecosystem. The volcanoes that created the islands even help keep life… more The Galápagos Islands are home to animals and plants found nowhere else on Earth. Among the Galapagos Islands sea birds, are a flightless cormorant that swim for their food , two species of gull and the only penguin species which lives in tropical waters. The Galapagos Islands are an amazing place to see fascinating animals, they are everywhere! Along with these new economic activities, more and more people migrated to the islands. The Galapagos hawk (Buteo galapagoensis) is a large species of hawk endemic to the Galapagos Islands. This is the lowest of the humid zones. By: Jorge Mancero Posted on 10 December, 2018 30 September, 2020. It is named after the daisy tree that grows there. 1. The lava all over the Galapagos islands is black, so the babies blend in better. In the 1920s, European and North American settlers began to arrive, as well as Ecuadorians who came to fish and farm. Galapagos Marine Iguanas are endemic to the Galapagos Islands, having the ability to sustain themselves on land and in the sea. Strict rules protect sea lions and other animals that live there. 13 Awesome Galapagos Tortoise Facts 1. The wingspan ranges from 116 to 140 cm. Second, it proposed a theory to explain how evolution works. The Galapagos Islands are a group of volcanic islands which lay in the Pacific Ocean close to the Equator line. Since 2012. Chapter 17 / Lesson 2. Kids in Galapagos can have activities that take place on the islands and are a great bonding opportunity for all family members. Jul 11, 2018 - Explore Bethany Leisure's board "galapagos", followed by 283 people on Pinterest. Galapagos Islands Penguin Facts for Kids Penguins 101 #penguin #galapagos. The Galapagos archipelago is perhaps one of the most bio-diverse places on earth. If you’re interested in learning more about this threatened species, make sure to read up on these interesting facts about the Galapagos Tortoise below to get yourself better acquainted. 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