San Cristobal Island is one of the oldest of the Galapagos Islands, as it sits on the eastern end of the archipelago. All of the islands are the result of the activity of a stationary volcano-producing area located to the northwest of the islands. As an extinct volcano, San Cristobal Island is now exposed to the elements and little by little, it will deteriorate and crumble back into the ocean.
4/8/2025
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Urbina Bay and Tagus Cove, Isabela Island
Isabela Island holds half of the land mass of the Galapagos Archipelago. Towering over the rest of the island chain with its massive shield volcanos, it is a diverse environment for numerous species. A morning visit to Urbina Bay shows us the unique and young geological formation of an uplifted area. A couple of square kilometers of intertidal zone was uplifted in the early 1950’s, in certain cases over four meters out of the ocean left high and dry. Vegetation has taken over the area since the uplift, with Galapagos giant tortoises and land iguanas roaming the area freely. We encountered over nine tortoises using our path for easy transportation. Yellow warblers, Galapagos mockingbirds, and Darwin’s finches provided an interesting soundscape. The afternoon brought us to Tagus Cove, with its historic graffiti written on the cliffs, some dating back to the early 1800’s. In the water or exploring along the coast, we encountered Galapagos penguins fishing among flightless cormorants, with the occasional plunge diving pelican. A heavy rain shower provided a cool, crisp feeling to the atmosphere as the sun painted the late afternoon sky among the clouds. It was another fascinating day exploring these incredible islands.
