Santa Cruz Island (Galápagos)
Encyclopedia
Santa Cruz Island is one of the Galápagos Islands
with an area of 986 square kilometres (380.7 sq mi) and a maximum altitude of 864 metres (2,834.6 ft).
Situated in the center of the archipelago
, Santa Cruz is the second largest island after Isabela
. Its capital is Puerto Ayora
, the most populated urban centre in the islands. On Santa Cruz there are some small villages, whose inhabitants work in agriculture and cattle raising. This island is a large dormant volcano. It is estimated that the last eruptions occurred around a million and a half years ago.
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
, 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 Puerto Ayora
.
Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, west of continental Ecuador, of which they are a part.The Galápagos Islands and its surrounding waters form an Ecuadorian province, a national park, and a...
with an area of 986 square kilometres (380.7 sq mi) and a maximum altitude of 864 metres (2,834.6 ft).
Situated in the center of the archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
, Santa Cruz is the second largest island after Isabela
Isabela Island (Ecuador)
Isabela Island is the largest island of the Galápagos with an area of , and length of nearly 4 times larger than Santa Cruz, the next largest of the islands. This island was named in honor of Queen Isabella of Spain, who sponsored the voyage of Columbus. . By the English, it was named Albemarle...
. Its capital is Puerto Ayora
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 mistakenly referred to as Santa Cruz.Puerto Ayora is the most...
, the most populated urban centre in the islands. On Santa Cruz there are some small villages, whose inhabitants work in agriculture and cattle raising. This island is a large dormant volcano. It is estimated that the last eruptions occurred around a million and a half years ago.
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
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
, its English name (Indefatigable) was given after a British vessel HMS Indefatigable
HMS Indefatigable (1784)
HMS Indefatigable was one of the Ardent class 64-gun third-rate ships-of-the-line designed by Sir Thomas Slade in 1761 for the Royal Navy. She had a long career under several distinguished commanders, serving throughout the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars...
. Santa Cruz hosts the largest human population in the archipelago at the town of Puerto Ayora
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 mistakenly referred to as Santa Cruz.Puerto Ayora is the most...
.
Points of interest
- Charles Darwin Research StationCharles Darwin Research StationThe Charles Darwin Research Station is a biological research station operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation. It is located in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos Islands, with satellite offices on Isabela and San Cristóbal islands.- Background :In Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island,...
- Headquarters of the Galápagos National Park ServiceGalápagos National Park ServiceGalápagos National Park Service is a national park service for the Galápagos Islands; its headquarters is on the island of Santa Cruz....
- lavaLavaLava refers both to molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption and the resulting rock after solidification and cooling. This molten rock is formed in the interior of some planets, including Earth, and some of their satellites. When first erupted from a volcanic vent, lava is a liquid at...
tunnels - Giant Tortoise Preserves
- Black Turtle CoveBlack Turtle CoveBlack Turtle Cove 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 visit the cove via panga but with the engines turned off...
- Cerro Dragón
- Tortuga Bay
- Los Gemelos