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ESPANOLA ISLAND, GALAPAGOS, ECUADOR : The archipelago is a little world within itself, or rather a satellite attached to America, whence it has derived a few stray colonists, and has received the general character of its indigenous productions. Considering the small size of these islands, we feel the more astonished at the number of their aboriginal beings, and at their confined range. Seeing every height crowned with its crater, and the boundaries of most of the lava-streams still distinct, we are led to believe that within a period, geologically recent, the unbroken ocean was here spread out. Hence, in both space and time, we seem to be brought somewhat nearer to that great fact--that mystery of mysteries--the first appearance of new beings on this earth .---Charles Darwin, Voyage of the Beagle Española is the oldest and the southernmost island in the Galapagos Island chain. Española's remote location helped make it a unique jewel with a large number of endemic creatures. Secluded from the other islands, wildlife on Española adapted to the island's environment and natural resources. Wildlife is the highlight of Española and the star of the show is the Waved Albatross. The island's steep cliffs serve as the perfect runways for these large birds which take off for their ocean feeding grounds near the mainland of Ecuador and Peru abandoning the island between January and March. Known as endemic to the island, Española is the Waved Albatross's only nesting place. Each April the males return to Española followed shortly thereafter by the females. Mating for life, their ritual begins with the male's annual dance to re-attract his mate. The performance can take up to 5 days consisting of a series of strutting, honking, and beak fencing. Once the pair is reacquainted they produce a single egg and share the responsibility of incubation. The colony remains based on Española until December when the chick is fully grown. By January most of the colony leaves the island to fish along the Humboldt Current. Young Albatross do not return to Española until their 4th or 5th year when they return to seek a mate. Information on Espanola Island and captions on photographs were taken from http://www.galapagosonline.com/Islands/islands/Espanola/Espanola.html, http://www.geographia.com/ecuador/galislands.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galapagos_Islands, http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/marineiguana.htm, http://www.gct.org/iguana.html, http://www.galapagos-seniors.com/galapagosanimals/galapagos_sea_lion.html, http://www.gct.org/birdfact.html, http://www.galapagosonline.com/Galapagos_Natural_History/Birds_and_Animals/Birds/Boobies.html#Blue-Footed%20Booby%20(Sula%20Neboxuii), http://www.galapagosonline.com/nathistory/wildlife/birds/galapagosbirds.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-footed_Booby, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gal%C3%1pagos_Mockingbird, http://www.galapagostourist.org/islands/espanola-island.php, http://www.opentravelinfo.com/travel_guide/south_america/ecuador/galapagos_islands/the_waved_albatros_galapagos_largest_sea_bird These photographs were taken in July 2008. Where in the world is ESPANOLA ISLAND, GALAPAGOS, ECUADOR?

ESPANOLA ISLAND, GALAPAGOS, ECUADOR

The archipelago is a little world within itself, or rather a satellite ...

Updated: Dec 18, 2009 1:48pm PST

RABIDA ISLAND, GALAPAGOS, ECUADOR : Rabida Island is located south of Santiago. Rabida is one of the most volcanically varied islands in the chain. Geologically consisting of eroded hills and lava emitted from spatter cones that have resulted in island's striking colors. A visit begins with a wet landing on the deep maroon colored northern beach. Named after an 18th century British admiral, John Jervis, the Earl of St. Vincent, Isla Rabida is also commonly known by its English name of Jervis Island. Sitting some 5 km south of Isla Santiago, this tiny island is just roughly five square kilometers in size. Known for its unique reddish-maroon terrain, Isla Rabida is also home to large populations of sea lions, pelicans and flamingoes. These group of islands forming the Galapagos Archipelago in Ecuador is known for being pristine. Though this island is uninhabited, visiting here is a must to enjoy the intriguing natural beauty and wildlife of the area. It is recommended that you see it now before it turns to something like Hawaii. The Ecuadorian government is having a hard time to control human invasion, not the tourist, but also Ecuadorian citizens and migrants from other countries. UNESCO declared the archipelago a World Heritage Site in 1978. The photographs shown here were taken in July 2008. Information shown above and on photo captions were taken from an article by Chris Kraul of Los Angeles Times, http://www.galapagosonline.com/Islands/islands/Rabida/Rabida.html, http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/Galapagos-Islands/blog-249920.html, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gal%C3%A1pagos_Islands, http://www.galapagoscruise.com.ec/rabida-isle, http://www.junglephotos.com/galapagos/ganimals/greptiles/lavalizard.shtml, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galapagos_finches, http://www.galapagoscruise.com.ec/brown-pelicans, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Pelican, http://www.vivatravelguides.com/south-america/ecuador/the-galapagos-islands/galapagos-overview/galapagos-wildlife-guide/sea-birds-galapagos/brown-pelican Where in the world is RABIDA ISLAND, GALAPAGOS, ECUADOR?

RABIDA ISLAND, GALAPAGOS, ECUADOR

Rabida Island is located south of Santiago. Rabida is one of the most ...

Updated: Oct 10, 2008 1:35pm PST

SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND, GALAPAGOS, ECUADOR : The fifth largest of the Galapagos Islands in terms of size, Isla San Cristobal has the second largest human settlement of this volcanic island chain. Also known as Chatham Island, Isla San Cristobal is important because it is home to the provincial capital of the Galapagos, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno which sits on the island’s southwestern end. Around 560 sq km in size, Isla San Cristobal is named in honor of Christopher Columbus, and is the second most popular island after Isla Santa Cruz, as there is a domestic airport here as well as a number of hotels, tour/travel companies, restaurants, and bars. Information on San Cristobal above and on captions of the photos are taken from: http://www.govisitgalapagos.com/islands/isla-san-cristobal.asp, http://www.galapagoscruise.com.ec/san-cristobal-island, http://www.ewaterways.com/vessel/Galapagos-Explorer-II?gclid=CMOkqZCMnpYCFQQCagodgyel6A, http://www.mvgalapagosexplorer.com/Cruise_Ship_Profile.asp The photographs in this gallery were taken in July 2008. Where in the world is SAN CRISTOBAL, GALAPAGOS, ECUADOR?

SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND, GALAPAGOS, ECUADOR

The fifth largest of the Galapagos Islands in terms of size, Isla San ...

Updated: Oct 10, 2008 6:46pm PST

QUITO, ECUADOR : Quito is Ecuador's capital, the country's second largest city and the capital of the province of Pichincha. Nestled in a long narrow valley, Quito is one of South America's most attractive destinations. The earlier inhabitants of what is today called Quito derived its name formerly from the Quitus tribe who lived and frequented the area in pre-Inca epochs. These indigenous people also intermingled with the coastal people called the Caras which helped formulate the next generation, the Shyris in 1300 AD by intermarriage who later joined the Puruhas who's descendants had many brutal battles with the Incas. When the Spaniards arrived in the early 16th Century Quito was already a major stronghold of the Incas under Huayna Capac and subsequently his son Rumiñahui Atahualpa who triumphed over all other indigenous races. The city was subsequently burned to the ground however, as the onslaught of the Spanish conquest to capture Quito resulted in the pride of the Incas destroying their own city even though many were captured and so there were no Inca remains to gloat over or live in. The new colonial city of Quito was re-founded by Spanish lieutenant Sebastián de Benalcazar, Pizarro's lieutenant on December 6th , 1534 and was reconstructed at the beginning of the Panecillo above the old city's ruins with actual Inca stonework's in many of the new floors and walls still visible today in the church and Cathedral of San Francisco. Information above taken from http://www.thebestofecuador.com/quito.htm Where in the world is QUITO, ECUADOR?

QUITO, ECUADOR

Quito is Ecuador's capital, the country's second largest city and the ...

Updated: Nov 05, 2008 5:03pm PST

QUITSATO, ECUADOR : Quitsato equator sundial is a monument in Cayambe. The Quitsato sun dial is supposed to be at the middle of the world. Their presentation that Cayambe is the only place on the equator with snow and of the soltices making it the true middle of the world is very interesting. More information may be found in their website http://www.quitsato.org/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=73&Itemid=87

QUITSATO, ECUADOR

Quitsato equator sundial is a monument in Cayambe. The Quitsato sun di ...

Updated: Nov 05, 2008 6:55pm PST

OTAVALO MARKET, OTAVALO, ECUADOR : Otavalo market is located within easy driving distance two hours north of Quito. There are many day trips available, but it's better to allow several days to see not only the famous market in Otavalo, but to visit the nearby villages, where villages follow an ancient craft and supply many of the textiles sold in their own markets as well as in Otavalo. The spring-like climate makes this an all-season destination, but the warmest months are July - September. Finely weaved textiles are the specialty here. The history of the textiles goes back to Spanish colonial days when land around Quito was granted to various people, including one Rodrigo de Salazar who had the grant at Otavalo. He set up a weaving workshop, using the Otavaleño Indians, already skilled weavers, as the workforce. Over the years, with imported new techniques and tools from Spain, the weavers at Otavalo supplied most of the textiles used throughout South America. Information taken from http://gosouthamerica.about.com/cs/southamerica/a/EcuOtavalo.htm Where in the world is OTAVALO, ECUADOR?

OTAVALO MARKET, OTAVALO, ECUADOR

Otavalo market is located within easy driving distance two hours north ...

Updated: Nov 10, 2008 2:23pm PST

MARINE, AIR, LAND ANIMALS AND BIRDS, GALAPAGOS : The following photographs are some of the decent photographs I was able to take and will become my mementos of my visit to the untamed islands of Galapagos. It is exciting to photograph animals in their natural habitat, not in a zoo. Here in the Galapagos Archipelago, nature is still in charge. Galapagos is considered around the world as a living laboratory. It was made famous through the writings of British naturalist Charles Darwin. Today the Galapagos Archipelago registered as a World heritage Site by UNESCO. It is now a mecca for nature lovers. Where in the world is GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, ECUADOR?

MARINE, AIR, LAND ANIMALS AND BIRDS, GALAPAGOS

The following photographs are some of the decent photographs I was abl ...

Updated: Nov 11, 2008 3:13pm PST

CAYAMBE HIGHLANDS, ECUADOR : Cayambe is an agricultural service town (population 30,473 on the last census on November 24, 2001) in highland Ecuador. It lies at the foot of the Cayambe volcano. While the town is mainly peopled by mestizos, the surrounding rural population is primarily comprised of indigenous people who are mainly involved in subsistence agriculture, dairying and lumber procurement. Cayambe's indigenous people of today are descendants of the pre-Inca Kayambi people. The Kayambi were resistant to Inca expansion and were only definitively conquered by Inca Huayna Capac after a bloody 20-year war. Not long afterwards, in the 16th century, the first Spanish conquerors arrived in the region. The Kayambi people adopted the Quichua language (sometimes also spelled Kichwa), a dialect of the Quechua language. Quichua survives in some of the hamlets today, while in others it has given way to Spanish. Cayambe, is a quiet pleasant highland town located 25 km northeast of Guayllabamba. Known by its "bizcochos" (small biscuits with tasty string cheese). Information taken from http://www.thebestofecuador.com/cayambe.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cayambe_(city) Where in the world is CAYAMBE, ECUADOR?

CAYAMBE HIGHLANDS, ECUADOR

Cayambe is an agricultural service town (population 30,473 on the last ...

Updated: Nov 14, 2008 4:54pm PST

All photographs on this site © by Andre'Salvador