Cerro Azul, Shield volcano on Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
Volcán Cerro Azul is a shield volcano on Isabela Island in the Galapagos Islands, characterized by gentle slopes and a wide summit caldera. The landscape looks like an enormous dark dome rising slowly from the ocean, shaped entirely by hardened lava flows and cinder cones.
This volcano formed around 350,000 years ago and has shaped Isabela Island since its creation. The 20th century brought several eruptions that continued to reshape the landscape over time.
The National Park Directorate maintains strict regulations to protect both the volcano and the surrounding Galapagos tortoise populations during volcanic activities.
Visits require official permits and are only possible with certified guides who follow safety rules. The best time to come is during the drier season when conditions are more stable and easier for exploring.
The lava flows on the surface are less than 5,000 years old and came from recent volcanic activity. These very young lava fields stand in sharp contrast to the much older foundation structure of the entire volcano.
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