Geography of Galapagos Islands
Location
FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS BASED ON ECUADOR INCLUDING GALAPAGOS: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru.
Geographic Coordinates
2 00 S, 77 30 W
Geographical Area
Land
276,840 Sq Km.
Water
6,720 Sq Km.
Land Boundary
2,010 Km.
Border Countries
Colombia
590 Km.
Peru
1,420 Km.
Length of Coastline
2,237 Km.
Terrain
Coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Elevation Extremes
Lowest Point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
Highest Point
Chimborazo 6,267 m
Natural Resources
Petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Land Use
Arable Land
6%
Permanent Crops
5%
Other
89%
Irrigated Land
8,650 Sq Km.
Natural Hazards
Frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts
Environmental Issues
Deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands
