Isabela and Fernandina Islands
We have reached the westernmost visitor sites of the enchanted Islands, well known as the volcanoes avenue, so what you see here are huge volcanoes with a perfect shield-shape, and in fact, this is what characterize the Galápagos young volcanoes. This is considered also the richest marine ecosystem in the entire Archipelago. This is due to the up-welling that the underwater Cromwell current brings to the surface, being extremely important for the whole unique wildlife of the surrounding islands, and for the rest of the archipelago, too.
This morning we had an amazing Zodiac ride along the northern coast of Isabela; the place was teeming with land and marine wildlife such as marine turtles by dozens, sea birds in feeding frenzy, penguins basking on the lava rocks and as the main highlight for many of us, the Mola mola or Ocean Sun fish! They were literally all over the place and we all got a great view of these bizarre looking creatures.
For the afternoon our Captain Juan Robalino repositioned the ship to Fernandina Island. This is one of the favorite visitor sites among the naturalists, not only because of the amount of wildlife but also for the sense of pristineness in the air. Young, untouched lava flows are the home for thousands of marine iguanas, sea lions and lots of shorebirds. We all had a marvelous time!
We have reached the westernmost visitor sites of the enchanted Islands, well known as the volcanoes avenue, so what you see here are huge volcanoes with a perfect shield-shape, and in fact, this is what characterize the Galápagos young volcanoes. This is considered also the richest marine ecosystem in the entire Archipelago. This is due to the up-welling that the underwater Cromwell current brings to the surface, being extremely important for the whole unique wildlife of the surrounding islands, and for the rest of the archipelago, too.
This morning we had an amazing Zodiac ride along the northern coast of Isabela; the place was teeming with land and marine wildlife such as marine turtles by dozens, sea birds in feeding frenzy, penguins basking on the lava rocks and as the main highlight for many of us, the Mola mola or Ocean Sun fish! They were literally all over the place and we all got a great view of these bizarre looking creatures.
For the afternoon our Captain Juan Robalino repositioned the ship to Fernandina Island. This is one of the favorite visitor sites among the naturalists, not only because of the amount of wildlife but also for the sense of pristineness in the air. Young, untouched lava flows are the home for thousands of marine iguanas, sea lions and lots of shorebirds. We all had a marvelous time!
