Floreana Island
All those parasitic cones over the island are very characteristic of a middle-age volcano, where activity is over and the processes of erosion and collapsing of the caldera have started.
This island has a lot of human history. In 1925-26 a group of Norwegians set up a cannery factory for tuna and lobster right behind post office barrel in the island of Floreana. But things went from bad to worse and at the end of the year many of them left the islands, except for a few families that moved to Santa Cruz to start banana and coffee plantations in the highlands.
After breakfast Captain Fausto Hinojosa repositioned the ship towards Champion islet, in order to focus in water activities. Here marine currents concentrate the rich nutrients therefore attracting a high diversity of species of tropical fishes. In fact, some marine biologists have reported about 80 different species around the islet, a marine mosaic from tropical to cool water regions. After having enjoyed the amazing snorkeling outing in Champion we came back home. And of course, by then it was time to take pleasure in the typical Ecuadorian lunch, which is always a feast of color and delicious food.
In the afternoon we went ashore on Pta. Cormorant where we had a nice walk through the arid vegetation zone where we learned a bit more about the adaptations that plants must have to deal with a dry environment. Later on along the lagoon we saw some wonders such as flamingoes, stilts and pintails ducks.
All those parasitic cones over the island are very characteristic of a middle-age volcano, where activity is over and the processes of erosion and collapsing of the caldera have started.
This island has a lot of human history. In 1925-26 a group of Norwegians set up a cannery factory for tuna and lobster right behind post office barrel in the island of Floreana. But things went from bad to worse and at the end of the year many of them left the islands, except for a few families that moved to Santa Cruz to start banana and coffee plantations in the highlands.
After breakfast Captain Fausto Hinojosa repositioned the ship towards Champion islet, in order to focus in water activities. Here marine currents concentrate the rich nutrients therefore attracting a high diversity of species of tropical fishes. In fact, some marine biologists have reported about 80 different species around the islet, a marine mosaic from tropical to cool water regions. After having enjoyed the amazing snorkeling outing in Champion we came back home. And of course, by then it was time to take pleasure in the typical Ecuadorian lunch, which is always a feast of color and delicious food.
In the afternoon we went ashore on Pta. Cormorant where we had a nice walk through the arid vegetation zone where we learned a bit more about the adaptations that plants must have to deal with a dry environment. Later on along the lagoon we saw some wonders such as flamingoes, stilts and pintails ducks.
