Isabela & Fernandina Islands
We crossed the equator and entered the westernmost realm of the Galapagos. Here the frigid waters of the deep Cromwell Current (Equatorial countercurrent) rise up along the western edge of the undersea Galapagos platform. The resulting water temperature makes the area a very rich marine ecosystem, sometimes attracting whales and dolphins.
Early in the morning we were circumnavigating Roca Redonda and saw several species of sea birds, however a dense fog covered the rock giving it the appearance of an enchanted place. Afterwards we went to Punta Vicente Roca where we took a Zodiac ride along the coastline of Isabela Island. Here we had snorkeling activities, and swam among sea lions, sea turtles, and different kinds of tropical fish.
After lunch we sailed to Fernandina, the newest island in the Archipelago and the most volcanically active. We also encountered a pod of striped dolphins. As we approached it, we saw a very large volcano rising to 5000-ft. elevation, which erupts every few years; the last time in January 1995. We landed and walked across the volcanic rock to an area with lush green bushes on one side and with sand and the lava rock on the other. Large marine iguanas were swimming in the sea and basking in the sun on the lava rocks. These are the biggest iguanas we have seen this week. At the edge of the lava by the sea there were several flightless cormorants lifting their small useless wings. Quite a sight! We re-boarded our pangas and cruised along the shoreline where we saw Galapagos penguins and more flightless cormorants. At the end we went back to the ship for a nice sunset cocktail.
We crossed the equator and entered the westernmost realm of the Galapagos. Here the frigid waters of the deep Cromwell Current (Equatorial countercurrent) rise up along the western edge of the undersea Galapagos platform. The resulting water temperature makes the area a very rich marine ecosystem, sometimes attracting whales and dolphins.
Early in the morning we were circumnavigating Roca Redonda and saw several species of sea birds, however a dense fog covered the rock giving it the appearance of an enchanted place. Afterwards we went to Punta Vicente Roca where we took a Zodiac ride along the coastline of Isabela Island. Here we had snorkeling activities, and swam among sea lions, sea turtles, and different kinds of tropical fish.
After lunch we sailed to Fernandina, the newest island in the Archipelago and the most volcanically active. We also encountered a pod of striped dolphins. As we approached it, we saw a very large volcano rising to 5000-ft. elevation, which erupts every few years; the last time in January 1995. We landed and walked across the volcanic rock to an area with lush green bushes on one side and with sand and the lava rock on the other. Large marine iguanas were swimming in the sea and basking in the sun on the lava rocks. These are the biggest iguanas we have seen this week. At the edge of the lava by the sea there were several flightless cormorants lifting their small useless wings. Quite a sight! We re-boarded our pangas and cruised along the shoreline where we saw Galapagos penguins and more flightless cormorants. At the end we went back to the ship for a nice sunset cocktail.
