Fernandina Island – Isla Fernandina Islas Galapagos

Fernandina is considered the most pristine of the Galápagos Islands because this island has had no species of mammals introduced as many of the other islands.

Fernandina has an area of 642 km² (247.9 miles2)and a height of 1,476 meters (4,842 feet), with a summit caldera about 6.5 km (4.0 mi) wide. The caldera underwent a collapse in 1968, when parts of the caldera floor dropped 350 meters. A small lake has intermittently occupied the northern caldera floor, most recently in 1988.

Fernandina Island

Due to its recent volcanic activity, the island does not present much plant life and has a mostly rocky surface. Visitors to Fernandina Island will most likely be taken to see only the outskirts of the crater for safety reasons. Punta Espinoza is a narrow stretch of land where hundreds of marine iguanas gather in large groups on black lava rocks. The famous Flightless Cormorant inhabits this island, as well as galapagos penguins, pelicans, galapagos land iguanas, rice rats, and sea lions. Mangrove forests also abound on the island.