Bartolome
This small island located just off
Sullivan Bay
east of Santiago. Bartolome, a desolate island with few plants is the
most visited and most photographed island in the Galapagos. The island
consists of an extinct volcano and a variety of red, orange, green, and
glistening black volcanic formations.
The best known of the island's features is the Tuff Cone known as
Pinnacle Rock. This large black partially eroded lava formation was
created when magma expelled from the volcano reached the sea. When the
seawaters cooled the hot lava it caused an explosion. The exploded
particles eventually fasten together forming a rock composed of thin
layers.
Bartolome's Pinnacle Rock has become one of the best recognized and
most photographed sights in the islands. A prominent sight it was used
as a target for US airmen during WWII. Lying beside the Pinnacle Rock
are twin half moon shaped beaches.
The northern beach is a popular
snorkeling site where visitors have the opportunity to swim with fish,
Sea Lions and
Galapagos
Penguins. Much larger animals can be found near
the southern beach including stingrays, spotted eagle rays, white-tipped
sharks, and black-tipped sharks.
Little vegetation grows in this barren place.
Mangroves border the
beach and the small shrub Tiguilia grows in the volcanic sands. The
seeds and tiny white flowers of the Chamaesycae provide food for the
island's finch. These plants are common to arid regions and are able to
survive in these harsh volcanic conditions.
Seasonally Bartolome is the mating and nesting site for the
Green Sea
Turtles. Very little was once known of these enchanting creatures of the
sea. They lived secretive lives only surfacing to breathe. In recent
years, sea turtles have been the subjects of a variety of international
studies.
The Pacific Green Sea Turtle frequents the Galapagos Islands mating
in the waters and laying eggs in the sands of the beaches. Green
Sea Turtles do not mate for life or form bonds with their mates.
Both the males and females of the species have many partners each
season. Peak mating occurs between November and January.
Females come ashore at night during high tide to lay more than 80
eggs at a time. The female may lay eggs 8 times per season. The
female comes ashore and digs a pit with her flippers near the high water
mark. After laying the eggs she covers them with sand before returning
to the sea. The process takes 3 to 4 hours.
The temperature of the incubation determines the sex of the young
turtles. Eggs incubated at 82ºF will be males and those incubated
at 90ºF will become females. The eggs hatch in approximately 2
months. Very few of the hatchlings survive their first year of
life. Eggs are vulnerable to pigs and goats, as well as the natural
predator the Trox Suberosus Beetle. Sea Birds prey on the young turtles
making their way from their nests to the sea. Once in the water
Orcas, Sharks and Crabs feed on the turtles. With the high
mortality rate and disappearing nesting grounds around the world Green
Sea Turtles are now an endangered species and the Galapagos breeding
grounds is an important area for the preservation of these creatures.
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