!!!Galápagos, Ecuador

Photos by [Max Guzovsky|https://photosight.ru/users/105714] and
[Oleg Gaponyuk|https://www.airpano.com/gallery.php?gallery=2],
members of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

6 March 2019

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

Not far from the equator, just in the midst of the Pacific Ocean, there
are the Galápagos Islands — the area that had appeared due to the
volcanic activity. From the perspective of the history of our planet,
the islands are rather young as the first island was formed "only" 5-10
million years ago. Just to compare: Madagascar had become a
fully-fledged island around 65 million years ago. Moreover, the youngest
of the Galápagos islands called Fernandina and Isabela are still in the
process of the development.

[{Image src='01_Galapagos.jpg' caption='Galápagos, Ecuador\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false'}]

Isabela Island includes 6 major volcanoes, with 5 of them being active.
We have captured one of them — Sierra Negra (Santo Tomás) being 1,124
meters high. The most recent eruption occurred in June 2018, so during
the AirPano filming the volcano was "sleeping".

[{Image src='02_Galapagos.jpg' caption='Galápagos, Ecuador\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false'}]

Tiny Cabo Rosa (Los Tuneles) islands have found themselves near Isabela
and represent unusual lava formations. Despite the name, they look more
like arches. At the same time, the islands are not lifeless: the surface
of dark volcanic stones are covered with giant cacti and serve as homes
for birds. And it is the only place in the Galápagos Islands where
penguins can be met.

[{Image src='03_Galapagos.jpg' caption='Galápagos, Ecuador\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false'}]

The nearest settlement is Puerto Villamil, which is also the westernmost
village of the archipelago and a popular yacht port. The picturesque
coastline and emerald surface of water attract lots of tourists and
beautiful landscape lovers.

[{Image src='04_Galapagos.jpg' caption='Galápagos, Ecuador\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false'}]

The most populated settlement of the archipelago is Santa Cruz, which
also serves as a starting point for numerous water tours and the most
interesting diving spots. Gordon Rocks Dive Site is among them: several
rocky stones surrounded by an unprecedented number of bright corals,
rare fish, turtles, seals, sea lions and sharks, including rare
hammerhead sharks that are considered endangered.

[{Image src='05_Galapagos.jpg' caption='Galápagos, Ecuador\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false'}]

There are not so many places on our planet where you can enjoy such a
diversity of nature. So, admire the astonishing views of the Galápagos
Islands!

[{Image src='06_Galapagos.jpg' caption='Galápagos, Ecuador\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false'}]

\\ \\
[17 panoramas of Galápagos|Geography/America/Ecuador/Pictures/galapagos]

[{SET customtitle='Galápagos (AP)'}]












[{Metadata Suchbegriff=' ' Kontrolle='Nein'}]