Isabela Island
The western side of the Galápagos is incredibly different from the eastern side. We are still traveling around the western side of Isabela Island, and we have seen superb wild life, and landscapes that make these places unique on earth. Isabela is the largest island in the archipelago, home to the many emblematic species that demonstrate the theory of evolution. Unique creatures like the flightless cormorants, penguins, land iguanas and giant tortoises that provide insights into the evolutionary past and their daily struggle for survival in an environment that offers unusual challenges.
The majesty of the active volcanoes reminds us that the creative forces of mother earth are still shaping these landscapes. Volcanic eruptions can happen at any time and the streams of hot lava destroy ecosystems that were assembled during thousands of years. New lava fields originate, new areas become available for colonization by hardy pioneer organisms. The wildlife in Galápagos is subject to the ferocity of the ever restless volcanoes that over three million years ago broke above the surface of the ocean to create the islands and opportunities for their survival.
Urbina Bay, located on the outskirts of Alcedo volcano, was our point of disembarkation in the morning. After a wet landing on a black sandy beach, pitted with sea turtles nests, we explored the area. Back in the early fifties, this section of dry land was under the surface of the ocean, covered by the shallow sea. The submerged lava rocks were home to a flourishing marine ecosystem that included echinoderms, crustaceans, corals, fish and sea turtles. One day, with little warning, this area was uplifted by four meters by magma flowing underneath the rocky sea floor and the marine life forms were left high above the surface of the ocean. The dry land was colonized by different types of plants, land birds, beautiful yellow land iguanas and giant tortoises that found perfect conditions for nesting and foraging. Our goal this morning was to hike to the land iguana colony that thrives in this newly created environment.
In the afternoon we repositioned the National Geographic Islander to disembark on a dramatic lava field at the base of Sierra Negra, a recently active volcano. We explored the lava flows and found several oases; brackish pools in collapsed layers of lava. These small lagoons harbor an incredible array of plants and lagoon birds, among them greater flamingos.
Once we concluded the hike we took the Zodiacs for a ride along the shore where we found large flocks of resting blue footed boobies and penguins who were sharing the same lava rocks with dozens of marine iguanas.
The western side of the Galápagos is incredibly different from the eastern side. We are still traveling around the western side of Isabela Island, and we have seen superb wild life, and landscapes that make these places unique on earth. Isabela is the largest island in the archipelago, home to the many emblematic species that demonstrate the theory of evolution. Unique creatures like the flightless cormorants, penguins, land iguanas and giant tortoises that provide insights into the evolutionary past and their daily struggle for survival in an environment that offers unusual challenges.
The majesty of the active volcanoes reminds us that the creative forces of mother earth are still shaping these landscapes. Volcanic eruptions can happen at any time and the streams of hot lava destroy ecosystems that were assembled during thousands of years. New lava fields originate, new areas become available for colonization by hardy pioneer organisms. The wildlife in Galápagos is subject to the ferocity of the ever restless volcanoes that over three million years ago broke above the surface of the ocean to create the islands and opportunities for their survival.
Urbina Bay, located on the outskirts of Alcedo volcano, was our point of disembarkation in the morning. After a wet landing on a black sandy beach, pitted with sea turtles nests, we explored the area. Back in the early fifties, this section of dry land was under the surface of the ocean, covered by the shallow sea. The submerged lava rocks were home to a flourishing marine ecosystem that included echinoderms, crustaceans, corals, fish and sea turtles. One day, with little warning, this area was uplifted by four meters by magma flowing underneath the rocky sea floor and the marine life forms were left high above the surface of the ocean. The dry land was colonized by different types of plants, land birds, beautiful yellow land iguanas and giant tortoises that found perfect conditions for nesting and foraging. Our goal this morning was to hike to the land iguana colony that thrives in this newly created environment.
In the afternoon we repositioned the National Geographic Islander to disembark on a dramatic lava field at the base of Sierra Negra, a recently active volcano. We explored the lava flows and found several oases; brackish pools in collapsed layers of lava. These small lagoons harbor an incredible array of plants and lagoon birds, among them greater flamingos.
Once we concluded the hike we took the Zodiacs for a ride along the shore where we found large flocks of resting blue footed boobies and penguins who were sharing the same lava rocks with dozens of marine iguanas.
