Fernandina Island
When we open our eyes in the morning, we never stop to think too seriously about what the day will bring us. We just unconsciously hope that by the end of the day we can say it has been a good day. Or even better we could wish for a great day, but when you are in a place like the Galapagos, it is practically guaranteed that your day will end up being a superb one!
That was the case today. Fernandina Island is the largest completely pristine island in the world. With a total surface area of 248 square miles of mostly black lava flows and literally no fresh water to be found anywhere, Fernandina would not be the island you would want to find if you happened to be a castaway. Luckily, that was not our case. Our arrival to the island early in the morning provided us spectacular scenery surrounded by volcanoes, lava flows and plentiful life that was soon revealed to us. Right after our landing, we discovered that the island was full of surprises. Sea lions and a large variety of sea birds were among the welcome committee. Right after our walk, we encountered penguins, flightless cormorants and pelicans in full breeding season during our Zodiac ride.
One of the most interesting animals today was the marine iguana. Despite the fact that we had seen several dozens of these prehistoric looking animals on other islands this trip, it is always striking to see the sheer mass of bodies that cover the lava flows of Fernandina. Things just got better as the day went by. The unexpected encounter of a large male sperm whale traveling on its own got our attention right away. Our very skilled captain and his officers provided us with the time enough to enjoy the whole view of the whale and its fluke, which was captured in a picture by one of my fellow naturalists, just before it disappeared down into the depths of the ocean.
When we open our eyes in the morning, we never stop to think too seriously about what the day will bring us. We just unconsciously hope that by the end of the day we can say it has been a good day. Or even better we could wish for a great day, but when you are in a place like the Galapagos, it is practically guaranteed that your day will end up being a superb one!
That was the case today. Fernandina Island is the largest completely pristine island in the world. With a total surface area of 248 square miles of mostly black lava flows and literally no fresh water to be found anywhere, Fernandina would not be the island you would want to find if you happened to be a castaway. Luckily, that was not our case. Our arrival to the island early in the morning provided us spectacular scenery surrounded by volcanoes, lava flows and plentiful life that was soon revealed to us. Right after our landing, we discovered that the island was full of surprises. Sea lions and a large variety of sea birds were among the welcome committee. Right after our walk, we encountered penguins, flightless cormorants and pelicans in full breeding season during our Zodiac ride.
One of the most interesting animals today was the marine iguana. Despite the fact that we had seen several dozens of these prehistoric looking animals on other islands this trip, it is always striking to see the sheer mass of bodies that cover the lava flows of Fernandina. Things just got better as the day went by. The unexpected encounter of a large male sperm whale traveling on its own got our attention right away. Our very skilled captain and his officers provided us with the time enough to enjoy the whole view of the whale and its fluke, which was captured in a picture by one of my fellow naturalists, just before it disappeared down into the depths of the ocean.
