Santiago Island, Galápagos

Dramatic evidence of past lava flows, some are called Pahoehoe, dominate the Sullivan Bay landing on Santiago island . The last eruption was in the 1800s. Darwin visited on October 8, 1835 and stayed for a week exploring, collecting and dining on sea turtle, which are no longer evident on the island. At the time of Darwin the island was called James Island for King James II of England and its official name is now San Salvador. A fur seal, many Sally lightfoot crabs, Whimbrels, and Lava herons were seen on the shoreline. Apparently Darwin did not notice any Galapagos penguins when he was on Santiago Island as they were absent from his notes, even though they were in evidence on this island in modern times as well as on several of the other islands where he collected information and specimens. Speculation is that perhaps an El Niño might have decimated colonies in the 1830s.