galapagos Archives

Christmas Island, home of the migrating Red Crabs and endangered Abbott Booby birds, is a place of natural wonder and contradictions. Christmas Island has long been known as the "Galapagos of the Indian Ocean", but it is a place full of contradictions. Today this remote, rugged outpost of Australia is as likely to grab the headlines for its controversial phosphate mining and immigration centre as it is for the island's extraordinary fauna and flora. Christmas Island is so called because it was discovered on 25th December 1643 by Captain William Mynors aboard the ship Royal Mary. But it wasn't settled until 1888 when it was declared a British Colony. Tropical rainforest It is an isolated territory 2600km north of Perth and on the fringes of Asia. It's tropical rainforest ...

Most people who visit Galapagos do so to see the animals, and it’s true that the islands are home to many fascinating species of birds, reptiles, insects and more. Most people don’t necessarily know that the Galapagos are also world famous for diving and snorkeling. Why the Galapagos Islands are Great for Snorkeling The Galapagos Islands are strategically located on the equator off the western coast of South America. Every year, currents coming up from South American and down from North America bring rich ocean nutrients. These nutrient-rich waters feed fish and marine plants, which in turn feed sharks, sea turtles and many of the above-water Galapagos animals such as boobys and frigatebirds. The Galapagos marine world does not have much coral, but does feature fish, echinoderms ...

Tag: galapagos

Christmas Island – Galapagos of the Indian Ocean

Travel guide: Snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands