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Darwin and Wolf are
two eroded volcanoes and are located
some 100 miles northwest of Isabela
on a volcanic ridge
(the Wolf-Darwin Lineament0. The islands are
the most remote of
the Galapagos archipelago,
Both islands are about the same size. Wolf is about
half a square mile in area rising to 830 feet (250 meters), and Darwin is a bit
smaller with a height of 550 feet (165 meters)
The islands, though,
are only tips of massive volcanoes that reach over 1000 meters above
the sea floor. Both volcanoes are now extinct, ranging in ages from
400,000 to 1,6 million years old..
About 21 miles apart,
the islands are rarely visited except by scientists and
scuba divers. The two islands are well-known among divers for their
diverse and abundant marine wildlife. It is virtually guaranteed to
see large schools of hammerhead sharks which are rare in the main
group of islands.
Darwin Island was named after the famous naturalist Culpepper, who
was
an English lord. Wolf gets its name from an Ecuadorian geologist.
Its English name was after Lord Wenman.
Wolf and Darwin are famous for the so-called "Vampire" finch. It's
the same species as the sharp-beaked ground finch (Geospiza
difficilis) but has adopted the curious perhaps repugnant habit
of pecking at nesting boobies and drinking the blood. This is
believed to be a behavioral adaptation in response to a poor diet.
The finches feed on small insects in the feathers so presumably they
evolved this behavior because it is beneficial
to them. The boobies do not seem to mind but they will sometimes
move away, only to be followed by the persistent finch.
Darwin Island is the only island in the archipelago where the sooty
tern (Sterna fuscata) breeds.
There are no land visitor sites on Darwin or Wolf.
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General information |
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Area : |
98 square miles (254 square kilometers) |
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Maximum altitude : |
165 meters (541 feet) |
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Population : |
0 |
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Geographic features : |
Range in age from 400,000 to 1.6 million years.
Inactive volcanoes |
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Getting there : |
Private diving tours |
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Getting around : |
No visits allowed |
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Major sites : |
None |
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Observations : |
Advanced diving only |
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Flora : |
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Fauna : |
Darwin
and Wolf are inhabited only by sea birds and are
rarely visited by tourists other than master
divers.
Those of you
who are scuba masters and love to dive should
not miss these two Northern islands. Contact us
for diving expeditions.
Because of the cold currents, here's where you
might get a chance a look at the great spotted
whale shark, whales, hammerheads, white tips,
galapagos sharks and more. This is a special
spot for the most spectacular sea life in the
islands. Because of the great distance from
Puerto Ayora, Darwin and Wolf are pretty
exclusive. If you're a die-hard diver, don't
miss out on the opportunity to dive here. Be
aware, though, that these islands are for
advanced divers. |
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Activities : |
Snorkeling
Scuba diving
Tours |
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