Galapagos Islands Explorer Map
The young, volcanic, Galapagos Archipelago is made up of over 130 islands and islets, although only five are actually inhabited. A province of Ecuador, they are located on the Equator, about 1,000 km (about 600 miles) to the west of South American mainland. Aside from their natural beauty, and the opportunities for exploration by sea, the Galapagos Islands are intimately associated with scientific research. While this may have begun with Charles Darwin’s brief visit in 1835, today the emphasis is on conservation research, and the islands and surrounding marine reserve form a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site.
Featuring:
- Illustrated biographies of explorers and other notable people.
- Historical time line.
- Color photos and text on Galapagos wildlife, and basic information on evolution, endemic species, conservation, and more.
- Information about all the main islands, visitor sites, and most popular dive sites.
Dimensions: 1000mm x 685mm (40" x 27") unfolded / 230mm x 125mm (9" x 5") folded.
Galapagos Islands:
For those who want more information about Galapagos than we can provide on our map, we have selected some books that you may wish to buy. We have chosen books that will add to your understanding and enjoyment of this exciting and still relatively little known region. Some of these you will want to read before or after your visit, while others, such as the wildlife field guide, will be of practical value while you are there.
We aim to review the best and most useful new books, but have added a selection of older works – including some that are now out of print – believing that a good book is still worth having, even if it is second-hand. We hope you have found this section of our web site useful.
The Galapagos Islands Explorer also has sections on human history, conservation, National Park Rules, the various island names (Ecuadorian and English), a timeline, and biographies of the significant people in Galapagos history. It will complement a trip to the islands, and help you make the most of your time there.
Mapping has come a long way since the islands first appeared on Gerardus Mercator’s map in 1569, and the Galapagos Islands Explorer is the perfect companion for a visit to the archipelago. As well as the map itself, the Explorer gives a general introduction to the geology, climate, and geography of the islands, plus background background information on the flora and fauna you can expect to see – from Galapagos cotton to the famous iguanas and giant tortoises. There is concise and practical information on each of the main islands as well as the most popular dive sites.
