Baltra Island
Encyclopedia
Baltra Island, or Isla Baltra, is a small island of the Galápagos Islands
. Also known as South Seymour (named after Lord Hugh Seymour
), Baltra is a small flat island located near the center of the Galápagos. It was created by geological uplift
. The island is very arid and vegetation consists of salt bushes, prickly pear cactus and palo santo
trees.
.
After the war the facilities were given to the government of Ecuador
. Today the island continues as an official Ecuadorian military
base. The foundations and other remains of the US base can still be seen on the island.
Until 1986, Seymour Airport
was the only airport serving the Galápagos. Now there are two airports which receive flights from the continent, the other located on San Cristóbal Island
. Private planes flying to the islands must fly to Baltra as it is the only airport with overnight facilities for planes.
On arriving into Baltra, all visitors are immediately transported by bus to one of two docks. The first dock is located in a small bay where the boats cruising the Galápagos await passengers. The second is a ferry dock which connects Baltra to the island of Santa Cruz
via the Itabaca Channel.
In 2007, Baltra Airport began remodeling to include additional restaurants, shops and an improved visitor area. The remodeling was expected to be finished by late 2008. As of November 2009 the work appears to have been abandoned. Graphics of the new, greatly enlarged airport terminal are displayed in the current wooden building, but no work is underway. This article implies it could be finished in 2011. Its statement on the new fuel storage facilities are correct
. The Galapagos Land Iguana
is the subject of an active re-introduction campaign on the island; it became extinct on Baltra in 1954. However, in the early 1930s, Captain G. Allan Hancock had translocated a population of Galapagos Land Iguanas from Baltra to North Seymour Island
, a smaller island just a few hundred metres north of Baltra. The iguanas survived and became the breeding stock for the successful Charles Darwin Research Station
captive breeding program. During the 1980s iguanas from North Seymour were brought to the Darwin Research Station as part of this project and in the 1990s land iguanas were reintroduced to Baltra. As of 1997 scientists counted 97 iguanas living on Baltra, 13 of which were born on the islands. Currently it is not uncommon to see iguanas either crossing the mainroad or on the runway at the airport.
Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, west of continental Ecuador, of which they are a part.The Galápagos Islands and its surrounding waters form an Ecuadorian province, a national park, and a...
. Also known as South Seymour (named after Lord Hugh Seymour
Lord Hugh Seymour
Vice-Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour was a senior British Royal Navy officer of the late 18th century who was the fifth son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford and became known for being both a prominent society figure and a highly competent naval officer...
), Baltra is a small flat island located near the center of the Galápagos. It was created by geological uplift
Tectonic uplift
Tectonic uplift is a geological process most often caused by plate tectonics which increases elevation. The opposite of uplift is subsidence, which results in a decrease in elevation. Uplift may be orogenic or isostatic.-Orogenic uplift:...
. The island is very arid and vegetation consists of salt bushes, prickly pear cactus and palo santo
Bursera graveolens
Bursera graveolens, known in Spanish as is a wild tree native from Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula to Peru and Venezuela that inhabits the South American Gran Chaco region . It is also found in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and on the Galapagos islands...
trees.
Airport
During World War II Baltra was established as a United States Army Air Force Base. Crews stationed at Baltra patrolled the eastern Pacific for enemy submarines and provided protection for the Panama CanalPanama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
.
After the war the facilities were given to the government of Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. Today the island continues as an official Ecuadorian military
Military of Ecuador
The Military of Ecuador is under civilian control. The commander-in-chief is the President of Ecuador, currently Rafael Correa. The military of Ecuador has been involved in border disputes with Peru , and has provided Military Observers and troops to the United Nations since 1948.-Mission:The...
base. The foundations and other remains of the US base can still be seen on the island.
Until 1986, Seymour Airport
Seymour Airport
Seymour Airport is an airport serving the island of Baltra, one of the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador.- Facilities :The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level...
was the only airport serving the Galápagos. Now there are two airports which receive flights from the continent, the other located on San Cristóbal Island
San Cristóbal Island
San Cristóbal is the easternmost island in the Galápagos archipelago, and one of the oldest geologically.Its Spanish name "San Cristóbal" comes from the patron saint of seafarers, St. Christopher...
. Private planes flying to the islands must fly to Baltra as it is the only airport with overnight facilities for planes.
On arriving into Baltra, all visitors are immediately transported by bus to one of two docks. The first dock is located in a small bay where the boats cruising the Galápagos await passengers. The second is a ferry dock which connects Baltra to the island of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Island (Galápagos)
Santa Cruz Island is one of the Galápagos Islands with an area of and a maximum altitude of .Situated in the center of the archipelago, Santa Cruz is the second largest island after Isabela. Its capital is Puerto Ayora, the most populated urban centre in the islands. On Santa Cruz there are some...
via the Itabaca Channel.
In 2007, Baltra Airport began remodeling to include additional restaurants, shops and an improved visitor area. The remodeling was expected to be finished by late 2008. As of November 2009 the work appears to have been abandoned. Graphics of the new, greatly enlarged airport terminal are displayed in the current wooden building, but no work is underway. This article implies it could be finished in 2011. Its statement on the new fuel storage facilities are correct
Wildlife
Baltra is currently not within the boundaries of the Galapagos National ParkGalapagos National Park
Galápagos National Park, established in 1959, is Ecuador's first national park. The government of Ecuador designated 97% of the land area of Galápagos as the country's first National Park...
. The Galapagos Land Iguana
Galapagos Land Iguana
The Galapagos Land Iguana is a species of lizard in the Iguanidae family. It is one of three species of the genus Conolophus...
is the subject of an active re-introduction campaign on the island; it became extinct on Baltra in 1954. However, in the early 1930s, Captain G. Allan Hancock had translocated a population of Galapagos Land Iguanas from Baltra to North Seymour Island
North Seymour Island
North Seymour is a small island near to Baltra Island in the Galapagos Islands. It was formed by uplift of a submarine lava formation. The whole island is covered with low, bushy vegetation....
, a smaller island just a few hundred metres north of Baltra. The iguanas survived and became the breeding stock for the successful Charles Darwin Research Station
Charles Darwin Research Station
The Charles Darwin Research Station is a biological research station operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation. It is located in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos Islands, with satellite offices on Isabela and San Cristóbal islands.- Background :In Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island,...
captive breeding program. During the 1980s iguanas from North Seymour were brought to the Darwin Research Station as part of this project and in the 1990s land iguanas were reintroduced to Baltra. As of 1997 scientists counted 97 iguanas living on Baltra, 13 of which were born on the islands. Currently it is not uncommon to see iguanas either crossing the mainroad or on the runway at the airport.