Isabela Island

Blooming cactus

A good catch by local fishermen

Flamingos

March 8, 2015

Isabela Island

Yesterday 15 of us took a day trip to another island, Isabella. It was about 40 nm away and in a speed boat took about 2 hours. When we leave on Tues it will probably take us ..

about 8  hours to cover the same distance again. At 20 kph in a small boat it was a very bumpy ride. Alarms were set for 5 am for an early start.

It was worth the trip as each island has its own unique features and flora and fauna. Isabella is the largest and youngest. There are a number of volcanoes on the island and the last eruption was only a few years ago. The second largest crater in the world is here, 11 by 9 km. A trip to see it wouldn't fit in a one day tour, however. The jeep did take us near 2 high points where we climbed to get a panoramic view. It looks like Arizona with the cactus and lava rocks. Some sailors stayed for a few days if they had crew to mind the boat at anchor.

There are a few remnants of the US presence during the Second World War. Nearby are remnants of an old, infamous, Equadorian penal colony from 1949 to 1956,  the Wall of Tears. As punishment the harsh guards ordered the building of a tall rock wall that caused many deaths and was never finished or needed.

We saw some pink flamingos on one of the lagoons, and took a hike through a mangrove swamp. Where that trail came out on the beach,  there were a number of local fishermen standing in the water dragging a large net across the rock strewn waters. When they pulled it up near us it was full of various types and ages of fish including puffers.  It was fun to watch as the encircling birds waited to get their share. If a fisherman threw a small fish back a bird would likely catch it before it hit the water.

After lunch we did some snorkeling in a spot where the penquins were known to be. You could watch them swimming and catching fish. They prefer cooler weather than it is now so there were not as many out. They are the most vulnerable species to a warming of the water which occurs with an El Nino year. There was a 60% chance of that this year but doesn't look like it is going to happen. That is good news for marine life which drops off with the heat. Also good luck for sailors as the wind is less favourable for sailing west as well as stormier.