Fernandina Island
Today, we had the thrilling experience to explore the extraordinary western part of the Galápagos Archipelago. This remote area is incredibly beautiful. It has breathtaking volcanic landscapes dominated by huge shield volcanoes and young black lava flows. This area is, at the same time, the richest part of the archipelago in terms of nutrients. The cool underwater upwellings from the Cromwell Current bring to the area enormous quantities of food and nutrients. The latter elements provide a copious source of nourishment to all the different creatures that inhabit these realms.
Fernandina constitutes the youngest island in the Galápagos Archipelago; its estimated age is only 300.000 years. Some geologists have estimated that perhaps it is even younger than that. This island is 248 square miles and has one single shield volcano which is 4,900 feet high. Impressive young lava flows cover the flanks of its imposing volcano. In the afternoon, we visited Punta Espinoza, a paradisiacal place that is the only visitor site on this island. Wildlife on Punta Espinoza was at its best today. During our walk, we observed many large groups of marine iguanas basking in the sun. Sea lions were resting on the sand while the flightless cormorants were busy taking care of their nests or caring for their chicks. The highlight of this visit was without any doubt a juvenile Galápagos hawk perching on top of a piece of driftwood. We were so close to the bird that we could not believe our eyes. A strange mix of fascination and admiration arose in all astonished observers. It was a remarkable and wonderful sighting.
Today, we had the thrilling experience to explore the extraordinary western part of the Galápagos Archipelago. This remote area is incredibly beautiful. It has breathtaking volcanic landscapes dominated by huge shield volcanoes and young black lava flows. This area is, at the same time, the richest part of the archipelago in terms of nutrients. The cool underwater upwellings from the Cromwell Current bring to the area enormous quantities of food and nutrients. The latter elements provide a copious source of nourishment to all the different creatures that inhabit these realms.
Fernandina constitutes the youngest island in the Galápagos Archipelago; its estimated age is only 300.000 years. Some geologists have estimated that perhaps it is even younger than that. This island is 248 square miles and has one single shield volcano which is 4,900 feet high. Impressive young lava flows cover the flanks of its imposing volcano. In the afternoon, we visited Punta Espinoza, a paradisiacal place that is the only visitor site on this island. Wildlife on Punta Espinoza was at its best today. During our walk, we observed many large groups of marine iguanas basking in the sun. Sea lions were resting on the sand while the flightless cormorants were busy taking care of their nests or caring for their chicks. The highlight of this visit was without any doubt a juvenile Galápagos hawk perching on top of a piece of driftwood. We were so close to the bird that we could not believe our eyes. A strange mix of fascination and admiration arose in all astonished observers. It was a remarkable and wonderful sighting.
