Fernandina Island

Fernandina Island, one of the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, in the eastern Pacific Ocean, about 600 miles (965 km) west of Ecuador. Third largest of the islands, with an area of 245 sq miles (635 sq km), it is separated from Isabela Island by the Bolívar Strait. Its relief is dominated by a single volcanic crater (3,720 feet [1,134 meters]), still intensely active. It is without human population.

Fernandina Island is the youngest island formed of all of the Galapagos Islands. It is named for Ferdinand II, king of Spain, the monarch who sponsored the voyage of discovery in 1492 for Christopher Columbus. The island is the most volcanically active of the Galapagos, and several serious eruptions have occurred there, most recently in 2024. Because of its relatively young geological age and ongoing volcanic activity, Fernandina has less vegetation compared to the other islands. However, the island supports a diverse array of wildlife. Fernandina’s plant life is primarily composed of dense mangrove forests along the coastline, which provide essential habitats for shorebirds and small fish. Moreover, Fernandina, along with neighboring Isabela Island, is home to the majority of the Galapagos penguin population.