"Living Museum of Biological Evolution Cologne Islands Western Circle Cruise" The first day of the eight-day trip 3️
Itinerary: Punta Moreno and Bahía Urbina Bay in the west of Isabela Island.
After a night of sailing, early in the morning the yacht is moored on the west side of Isabela on the northwest side of Florena Island, opposite Fernandina Island. Home to the largest and youngest of the Galapagos archipelagos, it was formed by five relatively young volcanoes featuring Galapagos tortoises and marine iguanas. Take out the camera and the viewfinder will reveal a panorama of three volcanoes, the most active volcanoes in the Galapagos Islands being Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul on Isabela Island and La Cumbre on Fernandina Island.
After breakfast, disembark and hike to the mangroves of Punta Moreno to visit gas-rich basalt lava flows (also known as rhyolites) formed by massive basalt lava flows spewed hundreds of years ago by the nearby Cerro Azul, corrugated or accordion-like solidified lava stretching into a complex coastal mangrove lagoon. There is little vegetation nearby, mainly concentrated in mangrove areas and around lakes, and it is worth mentioning that three species of cacti can be observed here. Catch a dinghy to observe species such as marine iguanas, flightless cormorants and Galapagos penguins.
In the afternoon, sail north along the coastline to one of Isabela's most amazing places, Bahía Urbina, a 6 square kilometer area that was once underwater, and one night in 1954, plate tectonic movements raised Isabela by 5 meters, catching many marine species by surprise and unable to return to the beach, and the entire area rose 3 meters above sea level. Large land iguanas (Land Iguanas) can be seen here, some large marine iguanas roam freely around the archipelago, and sometimes tortoises are seen. For marine photography enthusiasts, there is a chance to photograph exotic seahorses, green turtles, cat sharks and flightless cormorants. In the evening, end the day with unforgettable views of Isabela's five volcanoes while enjoying dinner under the stars (to be continued).
Figure 1: Lava fragments from the Negra volcano
Figure 2: Traces of lava flows
Figure 3: Cacti growing in a lava flow fracture
Figure 4: Sierra Negra
Figure 5: Isabela Island
Figure 6: Mount Negra
Figure 7: Isabela Island Negra Crater
Figure 8: View of La Cuumbrai from Cape Espinosa
Figure 9: La Cumbre volcano on Fernandina Island
Credit Theportuguesetraveler Happygringo steemit timbuktutravel Researchgate Epod lapintagalapagoscruise #Tourism# #Travel# #Latin America# #South America# #Galapagos# #Turtle Island# #Isabela Island# #Volcano# #Geology#
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