Bartolome Island
Bartolome Island is a very small one; it is only 0.5 square miles. This wonderful island, despite its size, is one of the most interesting and visited places in the archipelago. The volcanic formations and landscapes on this island are spectacular. The view that you can enjoy from the summit of the main cone is breathtaking. Pinnacle rock, an eroded tuff cone, stands out among all the beauty of the place. Its characteristic shape calls everyone’s attention. The Bartolome pinnacle has become a must-see and a must-pictured attraction for every visitor to Galapagos. Tuff cones and recent lava flows contribute to create a unique setting. An exquisite combination of colors makes the whole landscape even more beautiful.
Today, during the morning we walked along one of the two sandy beaches on Bartolome. We had plenty of time to enjoy the beach. For me it was a great opportunity to spend a long time observing the ghost crabs (Ocypode sp). This crab species is common on beaches where they dig burrows in the sand. It is very amusing to watch these crabs. Around the areas they live we can see little balls all over. The crabs make these pellets once they have filtered microorganisms from the sand. In a way, they are sort of spitballs.
The beach was crowded with crabs. They were everywhere. Something amusing, as well, is to observe them running to their holes if you try to approach them. With a lot of patience, I waited with camera in hand for a long time. Little by little, I got closer and closer. Finally, I had the opportunity to take pictures of one of them at a close range. The crab came out of the hole slowly. It saw me, but did not move for a while. After some seconds, it realized that I was not a threat for its integrity. The crab acted naturally. It just kept taking sand out of the hole and making it bigger. I really enjoyed observing the crab’s behavior.
Bartolome Island is a very small one; it is only 0.5 square miles. This wonderful island, despite its size, is one of the most interesting and visited places in the archipelago. The volcanic formations and landscapes on this island are spectacular. The view that you can enjoy from the summit of the main cone is breathtaking. Pinnacle rock, an eroded tuff cone, stands out among all the beauty of the place. Its characteristic shape calls everyone’s attention. The Bartolome pinnacle has become a must-see and a must-pictured attraction for every visitor to Galapagos. Tuff cones and recent lava flows contribute to create a unique setting. An exquisite combination of colors makes the whole landscape even more beautiful.
Today, during the morning we walked along one of the two sandy beaches on Bartolome. We had plenty of time to enjoy the beach. For me it was a great opportunity to spend a long time observing the ghost crabs (Ocypode sp). This crab species is common on beaches where they dig burrows in the sand. It is very amusing to watch these crabs. Around the areas they live we can see little balls all over. The crabs make these pellets once they have filtered microorganisms from the sand. In a way, they are sort of spitballs.
The beach was crowded with crabs. They were everywhere. Something amusing, as well, is to observe them running to their holes if you try to approach them. With a lot of patience, I waited with camera in hand for a long time. Little by little, I got closer and closer. Finally, I had the opportunity to take pictures of one of them at a close range. The crab came out of the hole slowly. It saw me, but did not move for a while. After some seconds, it realized that I was not a threat for its integrity. The crab acted naturally. It just kept taking sand out of the hole and making it bigger. I really enjoyed observing the crab’s behavior.
