Fernandina Island
The western realm of the Galápagos Archipelago is really spectacular. The volcanic landscapes are breathtaking and add a mysterious and magical hale to the already fascinating unique wildlife found there. Fernandina, the youngest island of the group, is a very special one. It is made of, geologically speaking, recent volcanic materials that have formed a huge shield volcano. The summit, as it is called, is approximately 5000 feet high.
The marine iguanas in the Galápagos are one of the best examples worldwide of adaptation and evolution in oceanic islands. Punta Espinoza, the only visitor site on Fernandina Island is one of the best places in the archipelago to observe and admire these singular reptiles. Like antediluvian beings, these majestic creatures can be seen forming huge groups. Some of these groups can have several hundred individuals. It is difficult not to compare these enormous living masses to the lava flows they inhabit. The marine iguana subspecies that lives on Fernandina is one of the largest found in the archipelago. Males look like miniature dragons. They resemble those mythical dragons that have become an important part of fantastic fairy tales. The marine iguanas of Galápagos are living relics from a recent past in constant change that give us clues about how intriguing the intricate mechanism of evolution can be.
The western realm of the Galápagos Archipelago is really spectacular. The volcanic landscapes are breathtaking and add a mysterious and magical hale to the already fascinating unique wildlife found there. Fernandina, the youngest island of the group, is a very special one. It is made of, geologically speaking, recent volcanic materials that have formed a huge shield volcano. The summit, as it is called, is approximately 5000 feet high.
The marine iguanas in the Galápagos are one of the best examples worldwide of adaptation and evolution in oceanic islands. Punta Espinoza, the only visitor site on Fernandina Island is one of the best places in the archipelago to observe and admire these singular reptiles. Like antediluvian beings, these majestic creatures can be seen forming huge groups. Some of these groups can have several hundred individuals. It is difficult not to compare these enormous living masses to the lava flows they inhabit. The marine iguana subspecies that lives on Fernandina is one of the largest found in the archipelago. Males look like miniature dragons. They resemble those mythical dragons that have become an important part of fantastic fairy tales. The marine iguanas of Galápagos are living relics from a recent past in constant change that give us clues about how intriguing the intricate mechanism of evolution can be.
