Urbina Bay & Punta Moreno
Thursday, the fifth day of our voyage, we visited a very different and interesting sort of place. Urbina Bay, on Isabela Island just west of Alcedo volcano, was tectonically uplifted in 1954. Coral heads were lifted five meters above sea level, as were six kilometer of the coastline. A lateral eruption of Alcedo volcano occurred a few months later.
After a wet landing on a black sand beach, Urbina is a good site for seeing sea turtle nests, huge marine iguanas, and penguins swimming. Half an hour away from the beach along the shore we found pelicans resting on the lava, flightless cormorants around a sheltered lagoon, blue-footed boobies plunge-diving, and spectacular coastal scenery. The trail goes inland through arid zone vegetation and plants like yellow cordia, a small tree with bright yellow flowers. The land iguanas relish these flowers. They pick them up and eat them when they fall or where they can reach them. There were flocks of juvenile finches, especially small, medium, and large-billed ground finches, yellow warblers, mockingbirds, and the dark billed cuckoo. After an enjoyable walk a refreshing swim in the chilly water was good for both the adults and the children. The kids then played in the coarse black sand while we adults chatted and read. When we boarded the ship at noon we began our navigation towards the southwest of Isabela.
After our lunch and a short siesta, we joined Naturalist Ernesto Vaca for a presentation on Charles Darwin. Then we headed to shore with the lava hikers disembarking first, to visit the rough lava field of Punta Moreno. This is a typical pahoehoe lava flow, with numerous cracks and sink holes; formed when the roof of gas pockets under the lava surface collapsed. A rich life has developed in and around these natural pools. Today we found flamingos, black-necked stilt, and common gallinules.
We also had another very exciting observation. Previously, on rare occasion, the naturalists have reported seeing some sort of eel like animal in these inland ponds. Today, due to the clearness of the water and a conveniently low tide, it was possible to photograph and recognize an eel that has never been reported from the Galápagos.
Thursday, the fifth day of our voyage, we visited a very different and interesting sort of place. Urbina Bay, on Isabela Island just west of Alcedo volcano, was tectonically uplifted in 1954. Coral heads were lifted five meters above sea level, as were six kilometer of the coastline. A lateral eruption of Alcedo volcano occurred a few months later.
After a wet landing on a black sand beach, Urbina is a good site for seeing sea turtle nests, huge marine iguanas, and penguins swimming. Half an hour away from the beach along the shore we found pelicans resting on the lava, flightless cormorants around a sheltered lagoon, blue-footed boobies plunge-diving, and spectacular coastal scenery. The trail goes inland through arid zone vegetation and plants like yellow cordia, a small tree with bright yellow flowers. The land iguanas relish these flowers. They pick them up and eat them when they fall or where they can reach them. There were flocks of juvenile finches, especially small, medium, and large-billed ground finches, yellow warblers, mockingbirds, and the dark billed cuckoo. After an enjoyable walk a refreshing swim in the chilly water was good for both the adults and the children. The kids then played in the coarse black sand while we adults chatted and read. When we boarded the ship at noon we began our navigation towards the southwest of Isabela.
After our lunch and a short siesta, we joined Naturalist Ernesto Vaca for a presentation on Charles Darwin. Then we headed to shore with the lava hikers disembarking first, to visit the rough lava field of Punta Moreno. This is a typical pahoehoe lava flow, with numerous cracks and sink holes; formed when the roof of gas pockets under the lava surface collapsed. A rich life has developed in and around these natural pools. Today we found flamingos, black-necked stilt, and common gallinules.
We also had another very exciting observation. Previously, on rare occasion, the naturalists have reported seeing some sort of eel like animal in these inland ponds. Today, due to the clearness of the water and a conveniently low tide, it was possible to photograph and recognize an eel that has never been reported from the Galápagos.
