Isabela and Fernandina Islands
Today we are exploring the “Avenue of the Volcanoes”; this is the youngest and one of the most active oceanic volcanic regions on earth. Up until 2005, about 60 eruptions have been recorded from eight of the Galápagos volcanoes, the latest being just two weeks ago. These highly productive waters are therefore naturally rich in marine life. This morning (and again, further to the south in the afternoon), we encountered a large pod of common dolphins just off Wolf volcano. Later on our guests gathered in the bridge to witness the crossing of the equator line. We continued navigating toward Pta. Vicente Roca for a Zodiac ride. Here the ocean was teeming with wild life: sea turtles everywhere, penguins feeding on sardines, cormorants carrying bouquets of “flowers” (seaweed) for their mates, and ocean sun fish only a few meters from the pangas. It was a fabulous morning!
In the afternoon we took the Zodiacs in to Pta. Espinoza, on the island of Fernandina. For many of us, this is the jewel in the crown of the Archipelago; an untouched and pristine place. Here we see beautifully sculptured pahoe pahoe lava flows and a few pioneer cactus and other plants. We can easily use our imaginations to envision these islands recently formed and still devoid of life. Little by little, plants and animal arrive and are added to the unique biota that we now find in these enchanted islands.
Today we are exploring the “Avenue of the Volcanoes”; this is the youngest and one of the most active oceanic volcanic regions on earth. Up until 2005, about 60 eruptions have been recorded from eight of the Galápagos volcanoes, the latest being just two weeks ago. These highly productive waters are therefore naturally rich in marine life. This morning (and again, further to the south in the afternoon), we encountered a large pod of common dolphins just off Wolf volcano. Later on our guests gathered in the bridge to witness the crossing of the equator line. We continued navigating toward Pta. Vicente Roca for a Zodiac ride. Here the ocean was teeming with wild life: sea turtles everywhere, penguins feeding on sardines, cormorants carrying bouquets of “flowers” (seaweed) for their mates, and ocean sun fish only a few meters from the pangas. It was a fabulous morning!
In the afternoon we took the Zodiacs in to Pta. Espinoza, on the island of Fernandina. For many of us, this is the jewel in the crown of the Archipelago; an untouched and pristine place. Here we see beautifully sculptured pahoe pahoe lava flows and a few pioneer cactus and other plants. We can easily use our imaginations to envision these islands recently formed and still devoid of life. Little by little, plants and animal arrive and are added to the unique biota that we now find in these enchanted islands.
