As the sun rose this morning and the air cleared, we realized that massive shield volcanoes surrounded us. The western part of Isabela gives us a clear idea of how these volcanic islands were formed, as there are recent flows visible everywhere. We started our exploration of this new land at Urbina Bay, where the terrain was uplifted in 1954 out of the tidal zone due to violent volcanic action. We find remnants underfoot of the seafloor as we encounter giant tortoises, land iguanas, and a plethora of Darwin finches. The afternoon gave us a history lesson as we walked in Darwin’s footsteps at Tagus Cove, gaining an incredible view of the hundred-mile long island of Isabela. We explored every detail of this area, land and sea, as we snorkeled with Galapagos penguins, marine iguanas, and Pacific green sea turtles, and kayaked below the massive tuff cones of the coastal area. We returned to the ship just as the sun burned a warm glow into the land as it dipped into the ether.
9/2/2024
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Floreana Island
Floreana was the first island colonized by people in the Galapagos. Ecuador took possession of the Galapagos Islands in 1832 and established a penal colony on Floreana. When Darwin visited the Galapagos in 1835, the second island he landed on was Floreana. During his stay, he met with some of the convicts and explored the highlands. Floreana Island has been shaped by volcanic activity and ecological evolution. When we arrived at Point Cormorant, we were greeted by the striking, green-tinted sand on the beach. The sand is colored by olivine crystals, a remnant of the island’s volcanic origins. A short trail led us to a contrasting white sand beach on the opposite side of the point. Along the way, we passed by a brackish lagoon that is home to a small but significant population of flamingos. As we hiked in the forest, we found Darwin’s finches, Galapagos flycatchers, and a dark-billed cuckoo. We explored a nearby rocky islet to find the Floreana mockingbird, which we added to our Galapagos bird list.