The Galapagos islands (0)

Introduction ... I read a book abput the Galapagos islands writen by Paul D. Steward.
I have devided my presentation in 3 paragraphs:
Firstly i will tal about the origins of the islands and the history, secondly about life on the land and in the sea, finaly about conserving the Galapagos.
The Galapagos Islands are situated on junctions between several shifting tectonic plates on the equator and about 1000 km off the Pacific coast of Ecuador . They are the product of one of the most volcanically active regions on our planet , a hot spot is situated directly beneath the islands and also It is the point where major ocean currents meet. These circumstances combine to make an area that truly is like no other place on earth.
Galapagos is comprised of 13 major islands, more than 120 smaller islets and rocks, and the surrounding ocean. The total land mass is almost 8,000 sq. km. Highest peak is Wolf Volcano reaching 1707m. The present islands are all younger than 4 million years and were formed separately from other land masses as a result of volcanic eruptions.
The Galapagos were discovered in 1535 by Fray Tomįs de Berlanga, the Bishop of Panama . He was sailing from Panama to Peru when he accidentally discovered the islands. Islands became a favorite hideout for  Pirates and the favorite location for whale hunters. After whales were locally cleared the whalers went there for tortoises , an estimated 200 000 or more adults had been removed. The island of Floreana was populated with a group of convicts’ in October 1832. Charls Darwin visited the island in 1835, he spent there 5 weeks. Nowadays five of the islands are populated with about 40 000 inhabitants. The name Island of Galapagos means island of tortoises.
Every animal or plant had to cross about 1000 km of open ocean to arrive on Galapagos. Despite the trials of arrival, over 560 species of native plants , over 55 species of native land vertebrates and 1700 species of native insect are found on Galapagos. There are no large mammals , the key herbivores are reptiles, and the top predators are birds and snakes . Mammals on the Galapagos include two species of bat, two endemic rice rat species and its most famous mammals - the Galapagos sea lion and fur seal. There can be identified four broad categories of habitat (the coastal zone, the dry lowlands, a transition zone and the moist uplands), each with its distinctive species.
Lava Cactus: One of the first plants to colonize a new lava field, the Lava Cactus is found on barren black lava flows
Iguanas on the Galapagos are either land or marine iguanas. Both are about the same size, growing up to about 1.5m, have stocky heads, a ridge of spiny scales along the neck and backbones. Land iguanas are lighter in color, tan to dark brown, and have shorter scales on the backbone . Land iguanas are inland, lesser in number, and feed on cactus .
There are 11 remaining races of the Galapagos Giant Tortoises. They eat grasse, cacti, and other vegetation. They can go for more than a year without drinking or eating .
The most famous tortoise from Galapagos is the Lonesome George who was found in 1971 on the island of Pinta. He is the sole survivor of his race .
There are four forms of sea turtles living in the Galapagos. Their front legs have modified into flippers for the water. They breathe air, but can stay submerged for a long time. Depending on their form, they feed on bottom algae, sea-grasses, jellyfish, bottom sponges, crabs and mollusks.
The Galapagos penguin lives farther north than any other penguin. Breeding on Isabela and Fernandina islands, the penguin is monogamous and is not as social as other penguins . They are only 40 cm tall.
Sea lions and fur seals are fin-footed mammals with amazing abilities in water. They have a body length between 150 and 250 cm and they weigh between 50 and 400 Kg, males are much larger than females.
Boobies are a member of the penguin family and are the most common species of booby in the Galapagos. Boobies have tapered bodies, long pointed wings and long tails. They are distinguished by their bright feet. They are blue -footed, red-footed or masked.
The waved albatross is the largest bird in the Galapagos. It has a wingspan of 2m and the ability to drink salt water and filter out the salt in a gland by their eyes. Albatrosses spend most of their time out at sea, eating squid, fish and invertebrates.
Sally Lightfoot Crab - The bright coloring of these adult crabs make them very visible just at water's edge. Immature crabs are smaller and darker. They feed on algae as well as dead fish, birds and seals. They can get out of harm 's way quickly, which is where they get the name "Lightfoot."
Concerving the Galapagos
In 1959, the government of Ecuador designated 97% of the land area of Galapagos as the country 's first National Park. The Charles Darwin Foundation was founded in 1959, in favor of UNESCO and the World Conservation Union. The Foundation is dedicated to the conservation of the Galapagos Islands  ecosystems . The Charles Darwin Foundation exists to provide knowledge and support to ensure the conservation of the environment and biodiversity of the Galapagos Archipelago  through scientific research and complementary actions. The Galapagos Islands  remain well preserved as a natural environment in large part due National Park Rules . It is prohibited to transport any live material to the islands, or from island to island, not to take any food to the uninhabited islands, not to feed or touch the animals . It can be dangerous and in the long run would destroy the animals' social structure and breeding habits. The organisms that are in isolation from the human diaspora can evolve in unique ways . World opinion clearly states that Galapagos is of inestimable value to the world’s culture and that its environment must be spared destruction.