How long are the Galapagos Islands?
The Galapagos consist of 13 major islands (ranging in area from 5.4 to 1,771 square miles [14 to 4,588 square km]), 6 smaller islands, and scores of islets and rocks lying athwart the Equator 600 miles (1,000 km) west of the mainland of Ecuador.
How far are the Galapagos Islands from each other?
Galapagos Islands Geography The Galapagos Islands are located 600 miles away from the Ecuadorian coastline, formed by 61 islands and islets with 13 main islands.
Which continent are the Galapagos islands closest to?
South America
How long is the flight Galapagos Islands?
around two and a half hours
What is considered the most dangerous shark?
Because of these characteristics, many experts consider bull sharks to be the most dangerous sharks in the world. Historically, they are joined by their more famous cousins, great whites and tiger sharks, as the three species most likely to attack humans.
What to do if a shark is swimming towards you?
But, if a shark is near you in the water, stay calm and don’t flail your arms. Experts say the best thing to do is to swim slowly and keep eye contact with the shark. They say the only time you should defend yourself is if a shark looks aggressive. In that case hit either its nose, eyes, or its gill openings.
What eats Galapagos?
Predators and prey Around the Galapagos Islands, remains of marine mammals such as sea lions and marine reptiles such as iguanas have also been discovered to be prey items. Galapagos sharks have few natural enemies.
Why do Galapagos sharks lie still on the ocean floor?
The juveniles tend to remain in shallow water to avoid predation by the adults. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed this species as least concern, but it has a slow reproductive rate and there is heavy fishing pressure across its range.
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.
Are there great white sharks in Ecuador?
The region is packed with multiple species of sharks and other marine life, the new study determined. The findings come after Ecuador designated the area a marine sanctuary in March 2016. The team most often found hammerheads, Galápagos, silky, black tip, whale, white tip and tiger sharks, he said.
Are there shark attacks in Ecuador?
There have been only eight shark attacks in Ecuadorian waters since records began in 1954, according to the website Shark Attack Data. Writer and underwater shark photographer Jeremy Stafford-Deitsch said the shark could have been a “huge” Galapagos shark, a species named after the archipelago.