Redonda Rock[a] (Spanish:Roca Redonda, "Round Rock") is a flat-topped, steep-sidedislet located roughly 25 km (16 mi) northwest of the island ofIsabela inEcuador'sGalápagos Islands. Redonda measures 100 m (330 ft) long and 50 m (160 ft) wide with a maximum elevation of 67 m (220 ft).[3] Its isolation and inaccessibility coupled with its rocky cliffs riddled with crevices and crossed by ledges has made Redonda a haven for nestingseabirds.[4]
| Roca Redonda | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Redonda Rock(1966) | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 67 m (220 ft) |
| Prominence | 67 m (220 ft) |
| Coordinates | 0°16′N91°38′W / 0.27°N 91.63°W /0.27; -91.63 |
| Geography | |
  Roca Redonda | |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Shield volcano |
| Last eruption | Unknown |
This small volcanic island is the remains of a largeshield volcano that has vastly eroded away below sea level.Potassium–argon dating of Redonda indicates that the islet is at least 53,000 years old.[3] However, it remains unknown when the last eruption occurred from the shield volcano. Several shallow submarinefumaroles exist around the island and may indicate that the volcano is still active.[5] Herman Melville described the rock in detail in his short story The Encantadas.
See also
editNotes
editReferences
editCitations
edit- ^McEwen (1988), p. 235.
- ^Kitchin, Thomas (1797), "South America",Kitchin's General Atlas..., London: Laurie & Whittle.
- ^ab"Roca Redonda".Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved2016-09-16.
- ^Hess, John (2009).The Galápagos: Exploring Darwin's Tapestry.University of Missouri Press. p. 42.ISBN 978-0-8262-1837-7.
- ^"The emergence of a Galápagos shield volcano, Roca Redonda".Springer-Verlag. Retrieved1 October 2023.
Bibliography
edit- McEwen, Alec (July 1988),"The English Place-Names of the Galápagos",The Geographical Journal, vol. 154, London: Royal Geographical Society, pp. 234–242,doi:10.2307/633849,JSTOR 633849.
