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Plazas are two small islands, created by land uplift, near the shore of
Santa Cruz. South Plaza is the larger one above. |
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On this islet, marine and land iguanas are known to interbreed
and produce hybrid offspring with shared characteristics. |
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This low island is covered by coastal
vegetation with tall opuntias and thorn shrubs. The redish color is
courtesy of sesuvium or carpetweed which appears so in the dry season.
Once the rain starts it turns greenish again. |
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The Opuntia or prickly pear cactus is very common in the arid
zone and found on all dry islands. On the isles where land tortoises and iguanas live, this cactus
grows treelike so to protect itself from those feeding animals. |
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Land iguanas know how to climb up shrubs to reach food.. |
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A bachelor bull showing off on a cliff overlooking the sea.
Male Sea Lions sometimes retreat to so-called bachelor colonies
to take a rest and later again to try to establish a beach territory
with several females, which it has to defend continuously from
other bulls. |
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Along the seaward cliff red-billed-tropicbirds
have their nests and fly showing off the long tail feathers. |
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Gordon Rocks located not far from Plazas Islands is one of the better
scuba diving sites near Puerto Ayora. |
© all photos by the author except #8 by A. Dust
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island & visitor site descriptions |
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