Genovesa Island
Genovesa Island
Genovesa Island
Genovesa Island, otherwise known as Tower Island, is a shield volcano in the eastern Pacific Ocean, in the Galápagos Islands. The island covers an area of about 14 km2 and has a maximum height of 64 meters. The horseshoe-shaped island contains a volcanic caldera, the wall of which has collapsed to form the rock-lined Great Darwin Bay. At its center is the saltwater Lake Arcturus, and the sediment in the crater is less than 6,000 years old. Although Genovesa is not known for historic eruptions, the sides of the volcano have very young lava flows. Because of its large and diverse colonies, the island is sometimes called Bird Island. Genovesa Island has an abundance of frigate birds and is one of the best places in the archipelago to observe Nazca Boobies, Red-Footed Boobies, tropicbirds, Swallow-Tailed Gulls, Storm Petrels, Darwin's Finches and Galápagos Mockingbirds. One of the island's attractions is Prince Philip's Steps, an outstandingly steep trail that climbs to 25-meter-high cliffs through a vibrant seabird colony. At the summit, the trail goes inland, where it passes more seabird colonies in a sparse Palo Santo Forest. The trail also offers views of a rocky plain. Storm petrels here differ from other bird species around the world in that they are active during the day and only return to their nesting sites at night to avoid predators. The smallest marine iguana in the archipelago is also found on the island.
Genovesa Island
Landscape images of Genovesa (Tower) Island in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador (2011)
Genovesa Island
Landscape images of Genovesa (Tower) Island in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador (2011)
Genovesa Island
Landscape images of Genovesa (Tower) Island in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador (2011)
Genovesa Island
Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) on Genovesa Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
Genovesa Island
Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) on Genovesa Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
Genovesa Island
Great Frigatebirds (Fregata minor) on Genovesa Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
Genovesa Island
Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) on Genovesa Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
Genovesa Island
Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) on Genovesa Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
Genovesa Island
Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) on Genovesa Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
Genovesa Island
Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) on Genovesa Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
Genovesa Island
Swallow-tailed Gull (Larus furcatus) on Genovesa (Tower) Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
Genovesa Island
Sally Lightfoot Crab (Grapsus grapsus) on Genovesa Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
Genovesa Island
Red-footed Booby (Sula sula websteri) on Genovesa (Tower) Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
Genovesa Island
Lava Gull (Larus fuliginosus) on Genovesa (Tower) Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
Genovesa Island
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) on Genovesa (Tower) Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
Genovesa Island
Galapagos Mockingbird (Nesomimus parvulus) on Genovesa (Tower) Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
Genovesa Island
Wandering Tattler (Heteroscelus incanus) on Genovesa (Tower) Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
Genovesa Island
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus galapagoensis) on Genovesa (Tower) Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)