April 21, 2009: La Cumbre volcano erupts lava into the Pacific Ocean, expanding Fernandina (Narborough) Island, in the Galápagos Islands, a province of Ecuador, South America. This eruption cycle started April 10, 2009 after 5 years of quiet. Fernandina Island was named in honor of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus. Fernandina is the youngest and westernmost island of the Galápagos archipelago, and has a maximum altitude of 1,494 metres (4,902 feet). Tourists are allowed to visit Punta Espinosa, a narrow stretch of land where hundreds of Marine Iguanas gather largely on black lava rocks. The Flightless Cormorant, Galápagos Penguins, Pelicans and Sea Lions are abundant on this island of lava flows and Mangrove Forests. The volcanic Galápagos Islands (officially Archipiélago de Colón, otherwise called Islas de Colón, Islas Galápagos, or Enchanted Islands) are distributed along the equator in the Pacific Ocean 972 km west of continental Ecuador, South America.
Add to Cart Add to Lightbox Download