Fernandina Island.

A volcano still at work

Fernandina is a single large shield volcano that erupts every few years. Its black lava fields, cracked and still bare, show how new land forms before plants arrive. The island has no introduced mammals, which makes it one of the most intact island ecosystems on Earth.

Cold, nutrient-rich water from the west feeds the shoreline, so marine iguanas gather in their thousands to warm up on the rocks after feeding on algae. Flightless cormorants nest close to the waterline, and penguins fish the channel toward Isabela. Visits are limited to a single site, Punta Espinoza, which keeps the island quiet.