January 16th: Hike to Sierra Negra/Volcan Chico and Tortoise breeding center

Today was our first full day on Isabella.  The class was split into two small groups- one went snorkeling and the other hiked on volcano Christo.

I was in the group that hiked on volcano Sierra Negra, the second largest active caldera in the world.  During the hike we talked about the various types of vegetation that we encountered due to the water availability (which is affected by humidity and subsequent cloud cover).  One of the zones was dominated by guava trees, and introduced species to the island.  Introduced species are harmful for native plants in the Galapagos because they take over

When we got close to the caldera, you could see the remnants of aa and pahoehoe lava flows (which differ in their viscosity or how easily they flow).  Words cannot articulate how this looked.  We also saw lava tubes and channels.  This is where the top of a lava flow cooled and hardened to produce a pipe-like structure, which provided insulation and allowed the lava to travel long distances from the eruption site.

Despite my sunburn, I felt invigorated by the 10 mile hike and astonished by all of the natural wonders we saw.  It was amazing to think that we could have seen flowing lava!  We ended the day with a tour of Isabella’s Tortoise breeding center.  They separate the tortoises by age and it is incredible to see how they develop in size from babies to 80 year olds.  They are truly amazing creatures.  I couldn’t help but think about what the older tortoises have seen their lifetime.  On our walk back to the hotel we saw flamingos feeding on microscopic shrimp and countless iguanas.  Each night when I review my notes and prepare to write my journal I am astonished by how much we see and learn each day.  This trip is trully a one in a lifetime experience!