Galapagos Flag and Coat of Arms

The Galapagos Flag and Coat of Arms were designed by Mr. Hugo Enrique Salazar Castro. Salazar was a young policeman when he arrived to the Galapagos Islands in 1952.

Due to its manual abilities in sculpture, painting, carpentry and to its intelligence, the chief of police on San Cristobal Island invites him to participate in the public contest to create a Galapagos flag arranged by Enrique Vallejo who was the governor of the Galapagos Islands on 1961.

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The policeman Hugo Salazar won the contest with his creation, and here is a full flag description:

The Green Color: represents the lush vegetation of the islands, mainly in the highlands. The Galapagos soil in the highlands is also fertile making it possible to be cultivated by its inhabitants.

The White Color: stands for the proud and the aspirations of Galapagos inhabitants. It also represents the lowlands (semi-arid) of Galapagos Islands on which xerophytic vegetation is abundant.

The Blue Color: represents the Pacific Ocean on which the islands are located. They are blessed with rich and abundant marine life (now is the second marine reserve in the world).

Galapagos Coat of Arms:

It is a reminder of the volcanic origin of the Galapagos Islands and its constant volcanic activity.

The quarter in the upper right shows a ship sailing in the Ocean.

It is believed to be the ship named Mercedes that departed from Ecuador in 1832 to take possession of the Islands.

In the lower left quarter appears a cornucopia which represents the prosperity and wealth of the Islands. The lower right quarter is represented by the Galapagos flag.

In the middle of the coat of arms is the Galapagos Tortoise which is the symbol of the Galapagos Islands and also the animal after which the islands were named.

The upper half of the shield (in blue) has thirteen silver stars that represent largest Islands.

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The Galapagos Islands are located in the Equator thus the Equatorial line appears right in the middle of the coat of arms from left to right.

The coat of arms has a torch in flames at the top and is surrounded by two olive branches on each side.

The official name of Galapagos is Archipelago de Colon but it is better known as Galapagos Islands worldwide.

The Galapagos flag was designed and created in 1961. The Galapagos Islands became a province of Ecuador in 1973.

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The Galapagos Islands are a National Park and with its Marine Reserve were both declared World Heritage sites.

The Capital city of Galapagos is Baquerizo Moreno And this Archipelago was officially discovered in 1535 by a Spanish Bishop named Tomas de Berlanga.

Galapagos Recommended Reading:

Wildlife of the Galapagos (Traveller's Guide)
Wildlife of the Galapagos is the most superbly illustrated and comprehensive identification guide ever to the natural splendor of these incomparable Islands. (It is a well-written, informative text).

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