Los Gemelos, Isla Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands

Santa Cruz Island () is one of the Galápagos Islands with an area of and a maximum altitude of . Situated in the center of the archipelago, Santa Cruz is the second largest island after Isabela. Its capital is

Puerto Ayora Puerto Ayora is a town in central Galápagos, Ecuador. Located on the southern shore of Santa Cruz Island, it is the seat of Santa Cruz Canton. The town is named in honor of Isidro Ayora, an Ecuadorian president. The town is sometimes mistaken ...

, the most populated urban centre in the islands. On Santa Cruz, there are some small villages, whose inhabitants work in agriculture and cattle raising. The island is an oval-shaped, long and wide

shield volcano A shield volcano is a type of volcano named for its low profile, resembling a warrior's shield lying on the ground. It is formed by the eruption of highly fluid (low viscosity) lava, which travels farther and forms thinner flows than the more v ...

. Its summit contains a shallow

caldera A caldera ( ) is a large cauldron-like hollow that forms shortly after the emptying of a magma chamber in a volcano eruption. When large volumes of magma are erupted over a short time, structural support for the rock above the magma chamber is ...

that has been largely buried by youthful pit craters and

cinder cone A cinder cone (or scoria cone) is a steep conical hill of loose pyroclastic fragments, such as volcanic clinkers, volcanic ash, or scoria that has been built around a volcanic vent. The pyroclastic fragments are formed by explosive eruptions o ...

s with well-preserved

craters Crater may refer to: Landforms * Impact crater, a depression caused by two celestial bodies impacting each other, such as a meteorite hitting a planet * Explosion crater, a hole formed in the ground produced by an explosion near or below the surf ...

. The most recent eruptions may have occurred only a few thousand years ago with the effusion of sparsely vegetated lava flows from vents on the north flank and along the summit fissure. A gigantic

lava tube A lava tube, or pyroduct, is a natural conduit formed by flowing lava from a volcanic vent that moves beneath the hardened surface of a lava flow. If lava in the tube empties, it will leave a cave. Formation A lava tube is a type of lava ca ...

measuring over long is a tourist attraction on the island. As a testimony to its volcanic history there are two big holes formed by the collapse of a magma chamber: Los Gemelos, or "The Twins". Named after the

Holy Cross Holy Cross or Saint Cross may refer to: * the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus * Christian cross, a frequently used religious symbol of Christianity * True Cross, supposed remnants of the actual cross upon which Jesus was crucified * Feast ...

, its English name (Indefatigable) was given after a British vessel HMS ''Indefatigable''. Santa Cruz hosts the largest human population in the archipelago at the town of

, with a total of 18,000 residents on the island.

Tortuga Bay Tortuga Bay is located on the Santa Cruz Island, about a 20-minute water-taxi ride from the main water taxi dock in Puerto Ayora. There is also a walking path, which is and is open from six in the morning to six in the evening. Visitors must sign ...

is located on the Santa Cruz Island, a short walk from center of Puerto Ayora where you can view marine iguanas, birds, Galapagos crabs and a natural mangrove where you can spot white tip reef sharks and the gigantic Galápagos tortoises.

Points of interest

* Charles Darwin Research Station * Headquarters of the Galápagos National Park Service *

Lava tunnel A lava tube, or pyroduct, is a natural conduit formed by flowing lava from a volcanic vent that moves beneath the hardened surface of a lava flow. If lava in the tube empties, it will leave a cave. Formation A lava tube is a type of lava ca ...

s * El Chato and Rancho Primicias Giant Tortoise Reserves * Itabaca Channel *

Black Turtle Cove Black Turtle Cove (Spanish: ''Caleta Tortuga Negra'') is a mangrove estuary on the northern shores of Santa Cruz Island in Ecuador's Galapagos Islands. The national park has strict regulations to protect this pristine environment. Tourists may ...

* Cerro Dragón *

* Playa El Garrapatero * Los Gemelos * Stand of

Scalesia ''Scalesia'' is a genus in the family Asteraceae endemic to the Galapagos Islands. It contains fifteen species that grow as shrubs or trees. This is unusual, because tree species are uncommon in Asteraceae. The genus ''Scalesia'' resulted from a ...

- daisy trees

Twin towns – sister cities

On June 19, 2002, the cities of Seabrook, Texas and Santa Cruz Island finalized a sister city status during a ceremony at Seabrook City Hall. Charles Darwin Research Station
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References

no stop now

External links

(commercial tour operator) {{DEFAULTSORT:Santa Cruz Island (Galapagos) Islands of the Galápagos Islands Calderas of the Galápagos Islands Polygenetic shield volcanoes