The Galapagos Islands 06....
Day 4 saw us arrive at Isabela Island which is the largest island in the Galapagos archipelago. We rode horses up into the highlands to the Sierra Negra crater - 1 of 5 active volcanoes on this island. The crater is absolutely enormous - 11km around the perimeter, so I believe, and is also the most volcanically active in the Galapagos. It erupts approximately once every 2 years and last erupted 6 months ago in early 2006.
We stayed about an hour on the rim, eating lunch, before returning back the way we came. Notice the huge amounts of petrified lava behind me. Once cooled, the lava is extremely porous and thus very light. It is also incredibly sharp and cuts footwear to shreds!
There are seven species of Lava Lizard in the Galapagos Islands and you often find yourself stepping over the things as they bask on the rocks and logs along the path. Females are generally smaller and have bright red or orange throats like this one.
One of the most striking birds in the Galapagos Islands is the Great Frigatebird. The male is instantly recognisable due to it's enormous scarlet neck pouch which it inflates to attract passing females. The sight of this pouch coupled with a sort of cowlike 'mooing' noise sends the females wild and unable to resist these amorous advances they fly down and begin pairing up with their chosen male. Something like that anyway.
We stayed about an hour on the rim, eating lunch, before returning back the way we came. Notice the huge amounts of petrified lava behind me. Once cooled, the lava is extremely porous and thus very light. It is also incredibly sharp and cuts footwear to shreds!
There are seven species of Lava Lizard in the Galapagos Islands and you often find yourself stepping over the things as they bask on the rocks and logs along the path. Females are generally smaller and have bright red or orange throats like this one.
One of the most striking birds in the Galapagos Islands is the Great Frigatebird. The male is instantly recognisable due to it's enormous scarlet neck pouch which it inflates to attract passing females. The sight of this pouch coupled with a sort of cowlike 'mooing' noise sends the females wild and unable to resist these amorous advances they fly down and begin pairing up with their chosen male. Something like that anyway.
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