May 3, 2019
May 3, 2019
Today is a travel day. We woke early and went to the airport for our flight to Baltra Island in the Galapagos Islands. We fly 1.5 hours to cover the 600 mile distance. That distance is crucial to the development of the Galapagos as a cauldron of biological evolution. Any farther, like the Hawaiian Islands, and there would be little land life. Closer and it would resemble the nearest landmass. The only land animals to survive 600 miles adrift on ocean currents are reptiles from South America. No mammals especially large predatory ones could survive the trip weeks at sea with no water.
Once on Baltra Island, we bussed to the shore where we loaded on Zodiac Boats (Panga in Spanish) to transfer to our accommodations for the next week, a small cruise ship. With 81 passengers it is one of the largest ships plying the Galapagos waters. Hopefully that means my weak stomach won’t be a problem. Once on board we had a delicious lunch, including an Ecuadorian Tomato-based Fish Soup.
After receiving our orientation briefing, we divided into smaller groups and did a wet landing onto the beach of nearby Mosquera Islet. It is just a thin strip of sand bar sticking above the waves. It is popular with Sea Lions lounging on the sand. We also see Frigate birds sailing just above our heads. They are huge with ten foot wingspans, and aerodynamic body.
While walking down the strip we see orange crabs on the rocks and are surprised to stumble upon Marine Iguanas sunning on rocks. These iguanas are jet black and blend into the volcanic basalt. They are the only iguanas that swim. These herbivores have adapted to the barren islands by learning to feed upon seaweed just offshore. Their body color evolved to black to better warm themselves after a dip in the cold ocean. Every once in a while we see them sneeze. This is another adaptation to rid their bodies of saltwater. The salt leaves their faces stained white.
We get a half hour to cool off in the ocean before returning to the ship. We are pleasantly surprised when two Sea Lions swim right past us in the shallow water. As we are getting on our Panga we watch a small group of Sea Lions cavorting around some of our fellow passengers. They are even jumping out of the water like dolphins. I wish I was still in the water!
Today is a travel day. We woke early and went to the airport for our flight to Baltra Island in the Galapagos Islands. We fly 1.5 hours to cover the 600 mile distance. That distance is crucial to the development of the Galapagos as a cauldron of biological evolution. Any farther, like the Hawaiian Islands, and there would be little land life. Closer and it would resemble the nearest landmass. The only land animals to survive 600 miles adrift on ocean currents are reptiles from South America. No mammals especially large predatory ones could survive the trip weeks at sea with no water.
Once on Baltra Island, we bussed to the shore where we loaded on Zodiac Boats (Panga in Spanish) to transfer to our accommodations for the next week, a small cruise ship. With 81 passengers it is one of the largest ships plying the Galapagos waters. Hopefully that means my weak stomach won’t be a problem. Once on board we had a delicious lunch, including an Ecuadorian Tomato-based Fish Soup.
After receiving our orientation briefing, we divided into smaller groups and did a wet landing onto the beach of nearby Mosquera Islet. It is just a thin strip of sand bar sticking above the waves. It is popular with Sea Lions lounging on the sand. We also see Frigate birds sailing just above our heads. They are huge with ten foot wingspans, and aerodynamic body.
While walking down the strip we see orange crabs on the rocks and are surprised to stumble upon Marine Iguanas sunning on rocks. These iguanas are jet black and blend into the volcanic basalt. They are the only iguanas that swim. These herbivores have adapted to the barren islands by learning to feed upon seaweed just offshore. Their body color evolved to black to better warm themselves after a dip in the cold ocean. Every once in a while we see them sneeze. This is another adaptation to rid their bodies of saltwater. The salt leaves their faces stained white.
We get a half hour to cool off in the ocean before returning to the ship. We are pleasantly surprised when two Sea Lions swim right past us in the shallow water. As we are getting on our Panga we watch a small group of Sea Lions cavorting around some of our fellow passengers. They are even jumping out of the water like dolphins. I wish I was still in the water!
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