I went to the first class meeting associated with my Galapagos Islands spring break trip last night (PP495), and I could not be more excited about it! I am really looking forward to exploring all the animals and seeing the volcanoes. If I were to chose a trip for spring break, I probably would have picked something in Europe (even though I've been there 3 times already because I am obsessed with it) so I am glad the availability of spring break trips worth 3 credit hours were limited to just two--one of which I had already been on so it was not an option. I really had no choice of where to go. When I was looking for trips I found nothing that fit into the spring break time frame and offered three credits. I found a ton worth 1 credit, but I had to get 3 to graduate. Right before I found this trip, I was getting so desperate I was willing to go anywhere--except for maybe Juarez or Kandahar. But, really, I was willing to go anywhere in the world, if I could just get three credits...and then, alas! I found a professor at State who had been on a trip to Belize last year for 3 credits. Though he had no trip posted anywhere, I emailed him to see if he was planning something (this was last year in the spring). Sure enough, he was! Lucky for me, he had this trip in mind. I am so excited because it is not something I would have picked. I would have probably never made a trip of my own accord to see these fascinating islands brought into existence through volcanic eruption beneath the sea...and now that I have learned a little bit about them, I know how much I would have been missing out on. In 1978, the Galápagos Islands were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in recognition of their “outstanding value to humanity." There are so many animals who reside in peace and have remained relatively untouched by human development. This has given these animals a sense of fearlessness. According to my professor, you can walk right up to them and touch them...and they are totally okay with it. He even said sea lions will swim right between your legs! Coming from the San Francisco Bay Area, that sounds crazy to me! and really scary to be honest. Nonetheless, I am super excited to see them closeup...especially the babies!
how adorable!
Apparently, penguins from the Antarctica even live in the Galapagos. Scientists claim at one time a huge piece of an iceburg cracked (full of penguins), and it floated all the way to the islands. The Humboldt Current keeps a steady flow of sardines flowing from the icy south up and over to the islands to feed these little guys.
Last summer, scientists found a new species, and the place they found it was on Wolf Volcano on Isabela island in the Galapagos Islands. It is so weird to me that we are still discovering species. Anyway, it was a pink iguana and the only place in the world that it lives is on that volcano. Maybe we will see it. That would be cool.
I'm really looking forward to taking pictures out there--as well as totally nervous about breaking my camera. Hopefully, only the former will happen.
Here is a map for anyone wondering where these islands are. They are right off the coast of Ecuador--about 600 miles out.
Apparently, penguins from the Antarctica even live in the Galapagos. Scientists claim at one time a huge piece of an iceburg cracked (full of penguins), and it floated all the way to the islands. The Humboldt Current keeps a steady flow of sardines flowing from the icy south up and over to the islands to feed these little guys.
Last summer, scientists found a new species, and the place they found it was on Wolf Volcano on Isabela island in the Galapagos Islands. It is so weird to me that we are still discovering species. Anyway, it was a pink iguana and the only place in the world that it lives is on that volcano. Maybe we will see it. That would be cool.
I'm really looking forward to taking pictures out there--as well as totally nervous about breaking my camera. Hopefully, only the former will happen.
Here is a map for anyone wondering where these islands are. They are right off the coast of Ecuador--about 600 miles out.
