Today we visit Española, also
called Hood Island (after Samuel Hood a Royal Navy Officer of the late 18th- early
19th century). Española is about three and a half million years
old, the oldest in the Galapagos chain
. The island is roughly a hundred times older than Fernandina, the
youngest and most active. Española
is fairly flat with no visible volcanic craters and no active volcanoes.
Island life has considerable diversity. Much of this has
to do with the Humboldt Current. Here we are near the equator, and yet when we’ve
gone snorkeling, many of us have worn wet suits to stay comfortable in the cool
waters.
Cool waters?
The waters of the Humboldt Current come from the
Antarctic. Winds, the gravitational pull of the moon, and the rotation of the earth stimulate
the current, making the deeper waters rise and deliver nutrients to the higher levels. This, combined
with the sun’s light, promotes plankton growth that attracts small fish that
attract larger fish and birds. The birds’
waste (guano) makes great fertilizer. A perfect cycle. So
this old island still has a lot to offer.
The ‘conveyor belt’ of tectonic
plates has moved Española over a hundred miles from its place of origin, but there
are areas with dense wildlife population.
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| The writer chats with a sea lion on Española |
We start the day with a panga
ride along the eastern side of the island, and then we have the opportunity for
snorkeling, or, as I prefer, a walk on the beach. You may remember I was enthralled by the sea
lions earlier on this trip. I can’t
resist the chance to visit with a new group of them.
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| Mama and baby sea lion |
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Next: More Life on Española
