What formed the Galapagos Islands?
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. The islands were formed through the layering and lifting of repeated volcanic action.
What are the Galapagos Islands and how did they form?
As the Nazca plate drags itself across the hot spot, the extra heat melts the crust, causing volcanoes, which appear seemingly out of nowhere like pimples on a teenager’s face. These volcanoes then erupt, forming islands like the Galapagos. Hawaii is another island chain formed by a “hot spot.”
What type of islands are the Galapagos Islands?
The Galápagos Islands are a chain of islands, or archipelago, in the eastern Pacific Ocean. They are part of the country of Ecuador, in South America. The Galápagos lie about 966 kilometers (600 miles) off of the Ecuadorian coast.
What continent is the Galapagos Island on?
South America
Is it safe to swim in the Galapagos?
Swimming in the Galapagos is an unforgettable experience, however, you need to be aware that certain marine life such as jellyfish, sharks, sea urchins and coral could be present during the swims.
Is there sharks in Galapagos?
At least 33 species of shark have been recorded in the waters around the Galápagos Islands, including the recently discovered Galápagos ghostshark. One of the most common shark species seen in the Islands is the Galápagos shark, but confusingly this species is found throughout the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Are there great white sharks in Galapagos?
1 place for sharks has just been identified — off the coast of Darwin Island and Wolf Island in the northern portion of the Galápagos archipelago. The waters of these Pacific islands contain the largest shark biomass ever reported, about 13 tons for every 2 1/2 acres. The findings are published in the journal Peer J.
How fast can a Galapagos shark swim?
But often they are swimming around at a slower speed of about 1.5 mph (2.4 kph). These fish are predators. Sharks can swim much faster over short bursts when they are attacking prey. At these times, they can reach about 12 mph (20 kph), the speed of a running human on land.
How big do Galapagos sharks get?
The Galapagos shark reaches a maximum length of 330 cm (11 ft). Male individuals mature at lengths of 2.1-2.4 m (6.9-7.5 ft.) while females mature at 2.2-2.5 m (7.2-8.2 feet) in length. Age of Galapagos sharks at first reproductive effort is approximately 10 years.
Do swell sharks bite?
Swell Shark. This shark is not aggressive, and when threatened can curve its body into a U-shape and gulp water into its stomach, swelling to almost twice its size and becoming difficult to bite.