Isabela & Fernandina Islands
Nice cool air from the south surrounded us this morning while we sailed around “Roca Redonda”, one of the most impressive places in Galápagos, and perhaps in the entire world. This used to be a volcano of small size; nowadays all we find is just the top of it, which is literally covered from top to bottom, and from side to side with sea birds. This small volcano still has fumaroles underwater, and is encircled by rich waters, full of plankton and nutrients, all making this region suitable for large colonies of sea birds to nest and live here all year around. This morning we encountered some playful bottlenosed dolphins, Galápagos sea lions, and Galápagos fur seals feeding around the same area. After crossing the Equator line we reached Ecuador volcano, half of its massive structure lies underwater, the other half stands in front of us, and it looks like a giant defying its final destiny, covered in sea birds, and dark rough lava; we tried to imagine when this collapse happened, all the sound of the falling rocks, or maybe it was the slow work of the wind and water that did it, along with the consequence of having a fault crossing the volcano that accelerated its half to fall in the water.
We amazed ourselves this afternoon walking over the youngest volcano in Galápagos, and we shared with Galápagos marine iguanas some of their territories, where males were fighting other males, and where we saw females visiting the “better looking” males, all of it in the sake of genetic material they will obtain for their future offspring. Some Galápagos flightless cormorants were also in search of the best nesting place, the right type of nesting material and those without a mate were trying “the right move”, during their aquatic ballet. Galápagos penguins were particularly vocal, mating calls and mating attempts were heard and observed all around.
We were rewarded with a gorgeous sunset as we came back from Fernandina. We loved very much what we saw today, but we are also looking forward to being on Santa Cruz Island tomorrow.
Nice cool air from the south surrounded us this morning while we sailed around “Roca Redonda”, one of the most impressive places in Galápagos, and perhaps in the entire world. This used to be a volcano of small size; nowadays all we find is just the top of it, which is literally covered from top to bottom, and from side to side with sea birds. This small volcano still has fumaroles underwater, and is encircled by rich waters, full of plankton and nutrients, all making this region suitable for large colonies of sea birds to nest and live here all year around. This morning we encountered some playful bottlenosed dolphins, Galápagos sea lions, and Galápagos fur seals feeding around the same area. After crossing the Equator line we reached Ecuador volcano, half of its massive structure lies underwater, the other half stands in front of us, and it looks like a giant defying its final destiny, covered in sea birds, and dark rough lava; we tried to imagine when this collapse happened, all the sound of the falling rocks, or maybe it was the slow work of the wind and water that did it, along with the consequence of having a fault crossing the volcano that accelerated its half to fall in the water.
We amazed ourselves this afternoon walking over the youngest volcano in Galápagos, and we shared with Galápagos marine iguanas some of their territories, where males were fighting other males, and where we saw females visiting the “better looking” males, all of it in the sake of genetic material they will obtain for their future offspring. Some Galápagos flightless cormorants were also in search of the best nesting place, the right type of nesting material and those without a mate were trying “the right move”, during their aquatic ballet. Galápagos penguins were particularly vocal, mating calls and mating attempts were heard and observed all around.
We were rewarded with a gorgeous sunset as we came back from Fernandina. We loved very much what we saw today, but we are also looking forward to being on Santa Cruz Island tomorrow.
