Santa Cruz Island
Academy Bay, the huge sheltered bay south of Santa Cruz, has been a witness of the growth of Puerto Ayora, a town that grew from 45 Norwegians in 1927 to more than ten thousand people today.
The bay was named after the Academy, the sail boat on which the California Academy of Sciences came to Galápagos in 1905-1906. They anchored on several occasions in the cove, at a time when there were no inhabitants on the island. The eleven members of the expedition were scientist specialized in different fields, and they all marveled at the beauty of Santa Cruz and at the uniqueness of its flora and fauna. Today, almost a century after the Academy’s days, the Polaris anchors in front of town.
The skies were so clear this morning that we could catch sight of the whole island from our ship. Santa Cruz is an extinct volcano, there are no more eruptions; lots of rumbling though, but from the human activity on the island.
In the green highlands we encountered a few Galápagos giant tortoises, walking through the tall and lush vegetation of the humid areas. In the lowlands we saw more tortoises, the ones that live, breed and grow at the Charles Darwin Research Station National Park headquarters. In town we vibrated with the human activity. Kids, adults, guides, taxi drivers, fishermen, all involved in their everyday habits.
It is amazing how Puerto Ayora has grown up. Originally intended to be a place for a fishing canning industry started by a group of Norwegians, today it is the heart of tourist activity in the Galápagos, and the heart of many good conservation programs going on.
Academy Bay, the huge sheltered bay south of Santa Cruz, has been a witness of the growth of Puerto Ayora, a town that grew from 45 Norwegians in 1927 to more than ten thousand people today.
The bay was named after the Academy, the sail boat on which the California Academy of Sciences came to Galápagos in 1905-1906. They anchored on several occasions in the cove, at a time when there were no inhabitants on the island. The eleven members of the expedition were scientist specialized in different fields, and they all marveled at the beauty of Santa Cruz and at the uniqueness of its flora and fauna. Today, almost a century after the Academy’s days, the Polaris anchors in front of town.
The skies were so clear this morning that we could catch sight of the whole island from our ship. Santa Cruz is an extinct volcano, there are no more eruptions; lots of rumbling though, but from the human activity on the island.
In the green highlands we encountered a few Galápagos giant tortoises, walking through the tall and lush vegetation of the humid areas. In the lowlands we saw more tortoises, the ones that live, breed and grow at the Charles Darwin Research Station National Park headquarters. In town we vibrated with the human activity. Kids, adults, guides, taxi drivers, fishermen, all involved in their everyday habits.
It is amazing how Puerto Ayora has grown up. Originally intended to be a place for a fishing canning industry started by a group of Norwegians, today it is the heart of tourist activity in the Galápagos, and the heart of many good conservation programs going on.
