The island of Fernandina is an imposing 5,000 foot volcano. It erupts every couple of years and is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Its flanks are streaked with innumerable fresh lava flows, still black and lifeless. Our experiences on hiking the park trails on the island helped us to capture the spirit of the Galapagos. In such starkness, it was amazing to view the rich abundance of wildlife along its coast. The Brown Pelican shown here is a resident, endemic subspecies. Temperatures were in the low 70's during this late afternoon hike.