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Galapagos Island (Ecuador)
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Official Name: Republic of Ecuador
National Anthem: 
Capital: Quito, population 1,300,000
Area: 283,561 Sq Km (109,484 Sq Mi)
Estimated 2005 Population:13,363,593
Language
Location: 02 ° 16 S 79 ° 89 E
Time Zone
UTC -5 (Ecuador)
UTC -6 (Galápagos Islands)
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Ecuador is located on the northwest coast of South America. It is bound by Colombia to the north, Peru to the east and south as well as the Pacific Ocean to the west. Major Cities (pop. est.); Guayaguil 1,508,800, Quito 1,100,800, Cuenca 195,000, Machala 144,200, Portoviejo 133,000 (1990). Land Use; forested 56%, pastures 18%, agricultural-cultivated 11%, other 15% (1993).
The country can be divided into four topographical regions:
1) The coastal plain or Costa which descends from the Andes Mountains with rolling hills in the north, to a broad lowland basin that reaches the Pacific Ocean. The coastal plain is also a rich agricultural belt.
2) The Sierra or Andean Highlands which is the central plateau between the Cordillera Occidental, Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Oriental Ranges. It rises to the snow capped mountain peaks and has 22 massive volcanoes, of which the highest are the Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Cayambe, Antisana and Sangay. The Sierra is subject to occasional and severe earthquakes.
3) The Oriente which is flat, consists of gentle undulating alluvial plains that are covered with tropical rain forests. Rivers dissect the Oriente flowing down from the Andes towards the Amazon River Basin.
4) The Galápagos Islands (Spanish name: Archipiélago de Colón) are an archipelago made up of 13 main volcanic islands, 6 smaller islands, and 107 rocks and islets. The very first island is thought to have formed between 5 and 10 million years ago, as a result of tectonic activity. The youngest islands, Isabela and Fernandina, are still being formed, with the most recent volcanic eruption in 1998.
The islands are distributed around the equator, 965 kilometres (about 600 miles) west of Ecuador (0° N 91° W).
The islands are famed for their vast number of endemic species and the studies by Charles Darwin that led to his theory of natural selection.
Ecuador MORE
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
The origin of its name is unknown. It has an area of 27 km² and a maximum altitude of 100 metres. The main airport of the archipelago is located here and was built during WWII by the United States Navy to patrol the Panama Canal. Land iguanas were reintroduced after the native population became extinct during the time when American soldiers were posted in this island, and marine iguanas and marine turtles can also be seen here. MORE
Named after Lt. David Bartholomew of the British Navy. Has an area of 1.2 km² and a maximum altitude of 114 metres. Famous for its Pinnacle Rock, which is the most representative landmark of Galápagos. Here the rare Galápagos Penguins and Sea Lions can be seen. There are amazing lava formations and spatter cones left untouched since the last eruptions.
This island is named after Charles Darwin. It has an area of 1.1 km² and a maximum altitude of 168 metres. Here fur seals, frigates, marine iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, sea lions, Whales, marine turtles, dolphins, red footed and masqued boobies can be seen.
Its name was given in honor of Spain. It is also known as Hood after an English nobleman. It has an area of 60 km² and a maximum altitude of 206 metres. Española is the nesting place of the albatross and also hosts Galápagos Hawks, marine turtles, masqued boobies, marine iguanas, sharks, sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, finches, Galápagos doves, giant turtles, tropic birds and blue-footed boobies. A lava fissure on the shore has created a blowhole where water spurts high in the air when the waves hit the wall. It is the southernmost island of the archipelago hosting a large proportion of endemic fauna. MORE
The name was given in honor of King Fernando of Spain, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus. Fernandina has an area of 642 km² and a maximum altitude of 1,494 metres. This is the youngest and westernmost island of the Archipelago. In May 13, 2005, a new eruptive process began on this island when an ash and water vapor cloud rose to a height of 7 kilometers and lava flows descended the slopes of the volcano on their way to the sea. Punta Espinoza is a narrow stretch of land where hundreds of Marine Iguanas gather in large groups on black lava rocks. The famous Flightless Cormorant inhabits this island and also Penguins, Pelicans and Sea Lions are abundant. Different types of lava flows can be compared and the Magrove Forests can be observed. MORE
It was named after Juan José Flores, the first president of Ecuador, during whose administration the government of Ecuador took possession of the archipelago. It is also called Santa Maria after one of the caravels of Columbus. It has an area of 173 km² and a maximum altitude of 640 metres. It is one of the islands with the most interesting human history and one of the earliest to be inhabited. Pink flamingos and green sea turtles nest (December to May) in this island. The "joint footed" petrel is found here, a nocturnal sea bird which spends most of its life away from land. At Post Office Bay, since the 18th century whalers kept a wooden barrel that served as post office so that mail could be picked up and delivered to their destination mainly Europe and the United States by ships on their way home. At the “Devil´s Crown”, an underwater volcanic cone, coral formations are found. MORE
The name is derived from Genoa, Italy where it is said Columbus was born. It has an area of 14 km² and a maximum altitude of 76 metres. This island is formed by the remaining edge of a large crater that is submerged. Its nickname of “the bird island” is clearly justified. At Darwin Bay, frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, which are the only nocturnal of its species in the world can be seen. Red-footed boobies, noddy terns, lava gulls, tropic birds, doves, storm petrels and Darwin finches are also in sight. Prince Philip´s Steps is a magnificent bird-watching plateau with Nazca and red-footed boobies. There is a large Palo Santo forest.
This island was named in honor of Queen Isabel who sponsored the voyage of Columbus. With an area of 4,640 km², it is the largest island of the Galápagos. Its highest point is Wolf Volcano with an altitude of 1,707 metres. The island's shape is the product of the merge of six large volcanoes into a single landmass. In this island penguins, cormorants, marine iguanas, boobies, pelicans and Sally Lightfoot crabs abound. At the skirts and calderas of the volcanos of Isabela, Land Iguanas and Galápagos Tortoises can be observed, as well as Darwin Finches, Galápagos Hawks, Galápagos Doves and very interesting lowland vegetation. The third-largest human settlement of the archipelago, Puerto Villamil, is located at the south-eastern tip of the island. MORE
Named after Fray Antonio Marchena. Has an area of 130 km² and a maximum altitude of 343 metres. Sparrow hawks and sea lions inhabit this island.
Its name was given after an English nobleman called Lord Hugh Seymour. It has an area of 1.9 km² and a maximum altitude of 28 metres. This islands is home to a large population of blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls. It hosts one of the largest populations of frigate birds, with their magnificent red pouches. MORE
It got its name from one of the caravels of Columbus. Has an area of 60 km² and a maximum altitude of 777 metres. Swallow-tailed gulls, marine iguanas, sparrow hawks, fur seals can be seen here. MORE
Named after the Pinzon brothers, captains of the Pinta and Niña Caravels. Has an area of 18 km² and a maximum altitude of 458 metres. Sea lions, sparrow hawks, giant turtles, marine iguanas and dolphins can be seen here. MORE
It bears the name of the convent of Rábida where Columbus left his son during his voyage to the Americas. Has an area of 4.9 km² and a maximum altitude of 367 metres. The high amount of iron contained in the lava at Rábida give it a distinctive red color. Flamingos and White-Cheeked Pintail Ducks live in a salt-water lagoon close to the beach, where brown pelicans and boobies have built their nests. Nine species of Finches have been reported in this island.
It bears the name of the Patron Saint of seafarers, "St. Christopher". Its English name was given after the English nobleman Count Chatham. It has an area of 558 km² and its highest point rises to 730 metres. This islands hosts frigate birds, sea lions, giant turtles, blue and red footed boobies, tropical birds, marine iguanas, dolphins, swallow-tailed seagulls. Its vegetation includes Calandrinia galapagos, Lecocarpus darwinii, trees such as Lignum vitae, Matazarna. The largest fresh water lake in the archipelago, "Laguna El Junco" is located in the highlands of San Cristóbal. The capital of the archipelago, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, lies at the southern tip of the island. MORE
Named after a city in Spain, has an area of 24 km² and a maximum altitude of 259 metres. Santa Fe hosts a forest of Opuntia cactus, which are the largest of the archipelago, and Palo Santo. Weathered cliffs provide a haven for swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropic birds, shear-waters petrels. Santa Fe species of land iguanas are often seen, as well as lava lizards. There is a picturesque turquoise lagoon and calm waters where snorkeling can be done along with sea lions. MORE
Named after the Holy Cross, its English name was given after the British vessel bearing this name (HMS Indefatigable ). It has an area of 986 km² and a maximum altitude of 864 metres. Santa Cruz is the island that hosts the largest human population in the archipelago at the town of Puerto Ayora. The Charles Darwin Research Station and the headquarters of the Galápagos National Park Service are located here. At the CDRS operates a tortoise breeding center where these chelonians are prepared to be reintroduced to their natural habitat. The Highlands of Santa Cruz offer an exuberant vegetation and are famous for the lava tunnels. Large tortoise populations are found here. Black Turtle Cove is a fantastic site surrounded by mangrove which sea turtles, rays and small sharks sometimes use as a mating area. Cerro Dragón, known for its flamingo lagoon, is also located here, and along the trail one may see land iguanas foraging MORE
Its name is equivalent to Saint James in English; it is also known as San Salvador, after the first island discovered by Columbus in the Caribbean Sea. This island has an area of 585 km² and a maximum altitude of 907 metres. Marine iguanas, sea lions, fur seals, land and sea turtles, flamingos, dolphins and sharks are found here. There are a large number of goats and pigs, animals which were introduced by humans to the islands and have caused great harm to the endemic species. Darwin Finches and Galápagos Hawks are usually seen as well as a colony of Fur Seals. At Sullivan Bay a recent pahoehoe lava flow can be observed. MORE
It is named in honor of a former president of Ecuador, General Leonidas Plaza. It has an area of 0.13 km² and a maximum altitude of 23 metres. The flora of South Plaza includes Opuntia cactua and Sesuvium plants, which forms a reddish carpet on top of the lava formations. Iguanas (land and marine and some hybrids of both species) are abundant and there are a large number of birds that can be observed from the cliffs at the southern part of the island, including tropic birds and swallow-tailed gulls.
This island was named after the German geologist Theodor Wolf. It has an area of 1.3 km² and a maximum altitude of 253 metres. Here fur seals, frigates, masqued and red footed boobies, marine iguanas, sharks, whales, dolphins and swallow-tailed gulls can be seen. The most famous resident is the Vampire Finch which feeds on the blood of the boobies and is only found on this island. MORE
Ecuador has a tropical climate which is hot and humid. The Costa has a heavy wet season from December to April, although rainfall occurs throughout the year. Temperatures are reduced by altitude in the Sierra with warm days and chilly nights as well as frequent heavy rain in the afternoons. The Oriente has a wet and hot equatorial climate with rainfall throughout the year. Average temperature ranges in Quito are from 8 degrees Celsius (46 degrees Fahrenheit) to 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) all year.
Ecuador Weather Now
Galapagos Conservation
Though the first protective legislation for the Galápagos was enacted in 1934 and supplemented in 1936, it was not until the late 1950s that positive action was taken to control what was happening to the native flora and fauna. In 1955, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature organised a fact-finding mission to the Galápagos. Two years later, in 1957, UNESCO in cooperation with the government of Ecuador sent another expedition to study the conservation situation and to choose a site for a research station.
In 1959, the centenary year of Darwin's publication of The Origin of Species, the Ecuadorean government declared 97.5% of the archipelago's land area a national park, except areas already colonised. The Charles Darwin Foundation was founded in the same year, with its international headquarters in Brussels. Its primary objectives were to ensure the conservation of unique Galápagos ecosystems and promote the scientific studies necessary to fulfil its conservation functions. Conservation work began with the establishment of the Charles Darwin Research Station in 1964. During the early years, conservation programs, such as eradication of introduced species and protection of native species, were carried out by Station personnel. Currently, most resident scientists pursue conservation goals; most visiting scientists' work is oriented towards pure research.
When the national park was established, approximately 1,000 to 2,000 people called the islands their home. In 1972 a census was done in the archipelago and a population of 3,488 was recorded. By the 1980s, this number had dramatically risen to more than 15,000 people, and 2004 estimates place the population around 20,000 people.
In 1986 the surrounding ocean was declared a marine reserve. UNESCO recognised the islands as a World Heritage Site in 1978, which was extended in December 2001 to include the marine reserve.
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The Galapagos land iguana is one of the signature animals of the Galápagos islands. |
Noteworthy species include:
- Galapagos land iguana, Conolophus subcristatus
- Marine iguana, Amblyrhynchus cristatus (only iguana feeding from the sea)
- Galapagos tortoise (Galápagos Giant tortoise), Geochelone elephantopus, known as Galápago in Spanish, it gave the name to the islands.
- Blue-footed Booby Sula nebouxii
- Galápagos Green Turtle, thought to be a subspecies of the Pacific Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas agassisi
- Sea cucumber, the cause of environmental battles with fishermen over quotas of this expensive Asian delicacy Holothuria spp.
- 13 endemic species of finch, popularly called Darwin's finches
- Woodpecker Finch, Camarhynchus pallidus
- Galápagos Penguin, Spheniscus mendiculus
- Flightless Cormorant, Phalacrocorax harrisi
- Galápagos Hawk, Buteo galapagoensis
- Sea lions, which belong to glacier seas, are present on the Galápagos islands because of the Humboldt cold current. They are found mainly on the Plaza Sur, Santiago and Fernandina islands.
Conservation Threats
Introduced plants and animals, which have been brought accidentally or willingly to the islands by humans, represent the main threat to Galápagos. They unbalance the ecosystem of Galápagos by quickly propagating, since they lack natural predators. |
Galapagos Land Iguana
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Some of the most harmful introduced plants are the Guayaba or Guava Psidium guajava, avocado Persea americana, cascarilla Cinchona pubescens, balsa Ochroma pyramidale, blackberry Rubus glaucus, various citrus (orange, grapefruit, lemon), floripondio Datura arborea, higuerilla Ricinus communis and the elephant grass Pennisetum purpureum. These plants have invaded large areas and eliminated the endemic species in the humid zones of San Cristobal, Floreana, Isabela and Santa Cruz.
A long list of animals were introduced to Galápagos mainly by pirates and buccaneers. Heyerdahl quotes documents that mention that the Viceroy of Peru, knowing that British pirates ate the goats that they themselves had released in the islands, ordered dogs to be freed there to eliminate the goats. Also, when colonization of Floreana by José de Villamil failed, he ordered that the goats, donkeys, cows, and other animals from the farms in Floreana be transfered to other islands for the purpose of later colonization.
Non-native goats, pigs, dogs, rats, cats, mice, sheep, horses, donkeys, cows, poultry, ants, cockroaches, and some parasites inhabit the islands today. Dogs and cats attack the tame birds and destroy nests of birds, land tortoises, and marine turtles. They sometimes kill small galapagos tortoises and iguanas. Pigs are even more harmful, covering larger areas and destroying the nests of tortoises, turtles and iguanas. Pigs also knock down vegetation in their search for roots and insects. This problem abounds in Cerro Azul volcano and Isabela, and in Santiago pigs may be the cause of the disappearance of the land iguanas that were so abundant when Darwin visited. The black rat Rattus rattus attacks small galapagos tortoises when they leave the nest, so that in Pinzón they stopped the reproduction for a period of more than 50 years; only adults were found on that island. Also, where the black rat is found, the endemic rat has disappeared. Cows and donkeys eat all the available vegetation and compete with native species for the scarce water. In 1959, fishermen introduced one male and two female goats to Pinta island; by 1973 the National Park service estimated the population of goats to be over 30,000 individuals. Goats were also introduced to Marchena in 1967 and to Rabida in 1971.
The fast growing poultry industry on the inhabited islands has been cause for concern from local conservationists, who fear that domestic birds could introduce disease into the endemic and wild bird populations.
Currently, the rapidly growing problems caused by shark finning, development, tourism, and a human population explosion are further destroying habitats.
The principal ethnic majority are the AmerIndians who account for around 50% of the population, followed by the Mestizos who are of mixed AmerIndian and Spanish descent, account for around 40% while Whites or pure Spanish account for around 9% of the population. Other ethnic minorities include Asians, Black Africans, British, Irish, French, Germans and Lebanese. Around 700 tribes represent the AmerIndian population, of which the largest groups are t.he Otavalos, Salasacas, Saraguros, Colorados, Cayapas, Jivaros, Aucas, Yumbos, Zaparos and Cofan.
Density; 41 persons per sq km (107 persons per sq mi) (1991). Urban-Rural; 55.1% urban, 44.9% rural (1990). Sex Distribution; 49.8% male, 50.2% female (1990). Life Expectancy at Birth; 63.4 years male, 67.6 years female (1990). Age Breakdown; 41% under 15, 28% 15 to 29, 16% 30 to 44, 11% 45 to 64, 4% 65 and over (1988). Birth Rate; 32.9 per 1,000 (1990). Death Rate; 7.4 per 1,000 (1990). Increase Rate; 25.5 per 1,000 (1990). Infant Mortality Rate; 51.7 per 1,000 live births (1990). MORE
The constitution provides for concurrent 4-year terms of office for the president, vice president, and members of Congress. Presidents may be re-elected after an intervening term, while legislators may be re-elected immediately.
The executive branch includes 15 ministries. Provincial governors and councilors, like mayors and aldermen and parish boards, are directly elected. Congress meets throughout the year except for recess in July and December. There are twenty 7-member congressional committees. Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the Congress for indefinite terms. MORE
Around 94% of Ecuadorians are Roman Catholic. Much of the population is practicing and attend mass regularly. In the rural parts of Ecuador indigenous beliefs and Christianity have been fused together.
Like every Latin American nation, Protestant Evangelicalism has had massive growth, especially in the rural poor areas, though it has been met by many who are reluctant to convert. Other Christian groups like Jehovah's Witness number over 130,000 members, and is growing rapidly. Mormons have also seen increasing numbers.
There is a small muslim minority numbering a couple of thousand. The Jewish community numbers just over 1,000 individuals and is mostly of German origin.
The official language is Spanish which is spoken by around 93% of the population and there are three distinct dialects that follow the topographical divisions of the Costa, the Sierra and the Oriente. Nearly 6% of the population speak Quechua, mainly the AmerIndians.
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Spanish is the fourth most-widely spoken language in the world according to some sources, while other sources list it as the second or third most spoken language. It is spoken as a first language by about 352 million people, or by 417 million including non-native speakers.
If you would like to learn some Spanish words you can download the Words Galore application below that has over 1,000 spanish words or follow the external web links to access some useful Spanish language sites.
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To get you started and introduce you to Spanish, we have put some basic phrases in Spanish below.
Click to hear the Spanish phrase, the words to the right of the icon are how to say it.
Basic Phrases |
| Hello |
Hola |
| Goodbye |
Adios |
| Good Morning |
Buenas Dias |
| Good Afternoon |
Buenas Tardes |
| Good Evening |
Buenas Noches |
| Do you speak English? |
Habla usted inglés? |
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No Hablo español |
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| Please |
Por Favor |
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Disculpame |
Aged 25 or over and having attained: no formal schooling 25.4%, incomplete primary 17.0%, primary 34.1%, incomplete secondary 8.1%, secondary 7.9%, higher 7.6% (1982). Literacy; literate population aged 15 or over 3,914,694 or 69.1% (1982).
| Modern History - WWII to 1993 |
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Between 1931 and 1948 twenty one governments held temporary office. This period was politically dominated by Jose Maria Velasco Ibarra who became President five times. In 1947 the military overthrew Velasco's government and 12 more years of liberal government was sustained by a boom in the export of coffee and bananas. In 1960 Velasco was reelected President and in 1962 was ousted. Carlos Julio Arosemena replaced Velasco, both of which attempted to present themselves as left wing reformers. In 1963 the military overthrew Arosemena and suspended the constitution in order to prevent a communist takeover. A military Junta embarked on land and tax reforms, and remained in power until 1966 when the people demanded an end to military rule. In 1968 Velasco was again reelected as President and in 1970 suspended the constitution, dissolved the Congress and began to govern as dictator. Military leaders overthrew Velasco in 1972 and Rodriguez Lara took power and began to rule as dictator. In 1976 the military removed Rodriguez Lara from office and took control of the government.
In 1979 elections were held to establish a new civilian government and were won by Jaime Roldos who led a new reformist coalition government. Roldos died in a plane crash in 1981 and Osvaldo Hurtado replaced him. Hurtado introduced an austerity program to combat high inflation as well as the country's foreign debt, which resulted in large scale social unrest. In May 1988 Rodrigo Borja Cevallo was elected President, announcing emergency economic measures which led to general strikes organized by trade unions in Nov. 1988 and July 1989. In July 1990 Pres. Borja met US Pres. George Bush and agreed to open the economy further, endorsing a proposal that Latin America should join the US in a free-trade block. In Feb. 1991 the guerrilla group, Alfaro Vive Carajo laid down its arms and began recruiting 100,000 members so it could become officially recognized as a political party. In Sept. 1991 there were clashes between students and police over increases in petrol prices that resulted in the resignation of the energy minister. Also during 1991 there was hot debate over the issue of oil development in the Amazon basin and the rights of AmerIndian peoples with allegation of US pressure from oil companies.
In May and July 1992 presidential elections were won by Sixto Duran Ballen, who was inaugurated on Aug. 10, 1992. In Sept. 1992 Pres. Duran announced a 26% devaluation in the Sucre and eliminated energy subsidies, that increased petrol prices by 300%. In late Sept. 1992 the United Workers Front organized a national strike in protest, while elsewhere in the country looting and unrest resulted. In Nov. 1992 Ecuador withdrew from the 13-member oil cartel OPEC. In Jan. 1993 public and private sector workers received a 30% wage increase, although strikes, lockouts and protests continued across the country. In Mar. 1993 a massive landslide cause the nation's worst ever natural disaster with some hundred deaths and an estimated damages in excess of $100 million. Also in March, government announced plans to privatise social security, resulted in the trade unions organizing further mass demonstrations, although the Congress approved a privatization law in Oct. 1993. In Aug. 1993 the army commenced a human rights program with some 6,000 officers and troops training in human rights, democratic values and regional security. Also in 1993 Pres. Duran continued to face union opposition to his economic policies with inflation for 1992 running at 60.2%.
Ecuador History MORE
Galapagos Islands History
The Galápagos were discovered by chance in March 10, 1535 when Dominican Fray Tomás de Berlanga, the Bishop of Panama, sailed to Peru to settle a dispute between Francisco Pizarro and his lieutenants after the conquest of the Incas, while performing an administrative mission for the Spanish Monarch Carlos V. The bishop's ship stalled when the winds died and strong currents carried him out to the Galápagos. In his account of the adventure, addressed to Emperor Carlos V, Berlanga described the harsh, desert-like condition of the islands and their trademark giant tortoises. He wrote about the marine iguanas, the sea lions and the many types of birds. He also noted the remarkable tameness of the animals that continues to thrill and delight modern visitors.
The islands are believed to date back to six million years ago as a result of volcanic activity generated beneath the ocean's floor. They were uninhabited, although Thor Heyerdahl in 1963 reported findings of pottery of South American origin that suggested earlier contacts, a theory that appears to still be controversial. The archipelago was used as hiding place by the English pirates that pilfered the Spanish galleons carrying gold and silver from South America to Spain.
The islands first appeared on maps in about 1570 in those drawn by Abraham Ortelius and Mercator. The islands were called "Insulae de los Galopegos" (Islands of the Tortoises).
The first Englishman to visit Galápagos was Richard Hawkins, in 1593. From then until 1816 many famous pirates visited the archipelago.
Alexander Selkirk, whose adventures in Juan Fernández Islands inspired Daniel Defoe to write Robinson Crusoe, visited the Galápagos in 1708 after he was picked up from Juan Fernández by the privateer Woodes Rogers. Rogers was refitting his ships in the islands after sacking Guayaquil.
The first scientific mission to the Galápagos arrived in 1790 under the leadership of Alessandro Malaspina, a Sicilian captain whose expedition was sponsored by the King of Spain. However, the records of the expedition were lost.
In 1793, James Colnett made a description of the flora and fauna of Galápagos and suggested that the islands could be used as base for the whalers operating in the Pacific Ocean. He also drew the first accurate navigation charts of the islands. Whalers killed and captured thousands of the Galápagos tortoises to extract their fat. The tortoises could also be kept on board ship as a means of providing of fresh protein as these animals could survive for several months on board without any food or water. The hunting of the tortoises was responsible for greatly diminishing, and in some cases eliminating, certain species. Along with whalers came the fur-seal hunters who brought the population of this animal close to extinction.
Ecuador annexed the Galápagos Islands on February 12, 1832, naming it Archipelago of Ecuador. This was a new name that added to several names that had been, and are still, used to refer to the archipelago. The first governor of Galápagos, General José de Villamil, brought a group of convicts to populate the island of Floreana and in October 1832 some artisans and farmers joined.
The Voyage of the Beagle brought the survey ship HMS Beagle under captain Robert FitzRoy to the Galápagos on September 15, 1835 to survey approaches to harbors. The captain and others on board including his companion the young naturalist Charles Darwin made a scientific study of geology and biology on four of the thirteen islands before they left on October 20 to continue on their round-the-world expedition. The governor of the prison colony on Charles Island told Darwin that tortoises differed from island to island, and when specimens of birds were analysed on return to England it was found that many different kinds of birds were species of finches which were also unique to islands. These facts were crucial in Darwin's development of his evolution theory, which was presented in The Origin of Species.
José Valdizán and Manuel Julián Cobos tried a new colonization, beginning the exploitation of a type of lichen found in the islands (Roccella portentosa) used as a coloring agent. After the assassination of Valdizán by some of his workers, Cobos brought from the continent a group of more than a hundred workers to San Cristóbal island and tried his luck at planting sugar cane. He ruled in his plantation with an iron hand which lead to his assassination in 1904. Since 1897 Antonio Gil began another plantation in Isabela island.
Over the course of a whole year, from September 1904, an expedition of the Academy of Sciences of California, led by Rollo Beck, stayed in the Galápagos collecting scientific material on geology, entomology, ornithology, botany, zoology and herpetology. Another expedition from that Academy was done in 1932 (Templeton Crocker Expedition) to collect insects, fish, shells, fossils, birds and plants.
During WWII Ecuador authorized the United States to establish a naval base in Baltra island and radar stations in other strategic locations.
In 1946 a penal colony was established in Isabela Island, but was suspended in 1959.
The currency is the US Dollar (USD)
Its main trading partners are the USA, Japan, Latin America, CARICOM countries and Germany.
Bananas, Cassava, Cocoa, Coffee, Crude Oil and Natural Gas, Fish, Gold, Limestone, Livestock, Maize, Oranges, Potatoes, Rice, Sugar Cane, Timber.
Agriculture, Cement, Crude Oil Production and Refining, Food Processing, Petrochemicals, Textiles, Wood Products.
Bananas, Cocoa, Coffee, Crude Oil, Processed Fish.
Railroads; route length 965 km (600 mi) (1988), passenger-km 63,300,000 (39,333,000 passenger-mi) (1988), cargo ton-km 8,180,000 (5,602,000 short ton-mi) (1988). Roads; length 37,636 km (25,777 mi) (1988). Vehicles; cars 272,282 (1987), trucks and buses 41,231 (1987). Merchant Marine; vessels 158 (1990), deadweight tonnage 523,169 (1990). Air Transport; passenger-km 979,000,000 (608,322,000 passenger-mi) (1989), cargo ton-km 60,041,000 (41,122,000 short ton-mi) (1989).
Daily Newspapers; total of 36 with a total circulation of 688,000 (1992). Radio; receivers 3,240,000 (1994). Television; receivers 900,000 (1994). Telephones; units 598,300 (1993).
57,500 (1994) total active duty personnel with 87.0% army, 7.8% navy and 5.2% air force while military expenditure accounts for 1.1% (1993) of the Gross National Product (GNP).
Link - Provides detailed information and statistics on Geography, People, Government, Economy, Communications, Transportation, Military and Transnational Issues. .
Link - World Bank Dat Profile provides key statistical information on People, Environment, Economy, Technology Infrastructure, Trade & Finance
Link - link to an Winipedia page providing a wealth of information from History and Culture through to Politics and Religion
Link - link to the latest New Headlines for this country
Link- link to Human Rights report for this country produces by Amnesty International
Link - link to US Congress Country Study for this country. Contains comprehensive information on a wide range of topics, particularly good for historical context.
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