Name: Espanola Island also known as Hood Island
Area: 60 km2 or 37 mi2
Maximum Altitude: 206 m or 675 ft
Human Population: 0
Española is the southernmost island of the archipelago and is also one of the oldest. Geologists estimate it to be about four million years old. Española is a classic shield volcano, created from a single caldera in the center of the island. However, due to erosion it is one of the flattest islands of the Galapagos.
This was one of my favorite of the islands! Here we experienced the seasonal "garua," or misting rain. Before you could get your rain jacket out of your daypack, it was gone. Then out of nowhere, it'd be back!
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Being so isolated, Espanola has abundant wildlife, with many species endemic to that island: Española Mockingbird, the Española Lava Lizard, and the Waved Albatross, to name a few.
If you land at Punta Suarez you will walk along a trail that shows you both inland and coastal systems. The trail is beautiful, and the wildlife is curious! Have your camera ready to take snaps shots of: beaching sea lions, prowling Galapagos hawks, and nesting Albatross in addition to the above listed.
The scenery is breathtaking and deserves pictures that speak for themselves! Keep your eyes open for the blow hole as you walk along the outer edge of the island.
There are two conservation sites on Espanola: Waved Albatross Colony (absolutely breaktaking) and Tortoise repatriation. Since this island is easily accessible, sailors frequently stopped here to hunt Albatross and tortoise. Feral goats were also left of the island, leading to the near devastation of endemic plants.
Happy Traveling - Life is One Great Adventure!
Photo Gallery: I'll let the pictures do the talking! These are my personal pictures!
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All Photos in this Blog were taken by: Elizabeth Hart (elizabeth_andythornal@yahoo.com)