Eastern Pacific High Sea

West of Ecuador, the eastern Pacific separates the mainland from the Galápagos archipelago. Currents and changing winds shaped the voyages of ships moving between Panama and Peru. In 1535 Bishop Tomás de Berlanga’s vessel drifted away from the coast and reached the volcanic islands, where the crew struggled to find fresh water. The waters around the islands bring together species from several marine regions as warm and cool currents meet.