South Plaza Island
South Plaza Island
South Plaza Island
Located off the east coast of Santa Cruz in the Galápagos Islands, South Plaza is a small island with an area of 0.13 km2 and a maximum elevation of 23 meters above sea level. The South Plaza was shaped by lava flowing up from the ocean floor. In spite of its small size, it is home to many species and is renowned for its remarkable flora. The sea cliffs are home to a variety of birds, such as nesting Red-Billed Tropicbirds and Swallow-Tailed Gulls, and offer sweeping views. Notable are the prickly pear cacti and the large colony of Galápagos Land Iguanas that feed on the cacti. In addition, the range and breeding season of the Galápagos Land Iguana overlaps with that of the Marine Iguana only on South Plaza Island, resulting in a unique population of hybrid iguanas. The color of the Sesuvium ground vegetation, which changes with the seasons, is a beautiful sight. They vary from green during rainy periods to orange and violet during dry periods.
South Plaza Island
Landscape images with Giant Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia echios) on South Plaza Island in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador (2011)
South Plaza Island
Sunset at South Plaza Island in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador (2011)
South Plaza Island
Landscape images with Giant Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia echios) on South Plaza Island in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador (2011)
South Plaza Island
Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor ridgwayi) with Galapagos Shearwater (Puffinus galapagensis) at South Plaza Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
South Plaza Island
Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor ridgwayi) with Galapagos Shearwater (Puffinus galapagensis) at South Plaza Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
South Plaza Island
Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor ridgwayi) with Galapagos Shearwater (Puffinus galapagensis) at South Plaza Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
South Plaza Island
Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor ridgwayi) with Galapagos Shearwater (Puffinus galapagensis) at South Plaza Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
South Plaza Island
Sally Lightfoot Crab (Grapsus grapsus) on South Plaza Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
South Plaza Island
Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus) on South Plaza Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)
South Plaza Island
Landscape images with Giant Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia echios) on South Plaza Island in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador (2011)
South Plaza Island
Elliot's Storm Petrel (Oceanites gracilis galapagoensis) at South Plaza Island in the Galapagos Islands (2011)