Galapagos volcano erupts, could threaten wildlife

April 12, 2009

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In this photo released by Galapagos National Park, La Cumbre volcano erupts in Fernandina Island, in the Galapagos islands, Ecuador, Saturday, April 11, 2009. The Galapagos National Park says La Cumbre volcano began spewing lava, gas and smoke on uninhabited Fernandina Island on Saturday after four years of inactivity. (AP Photo/Galapagos National Park)

(AP) -- Ecuador officials say a volcano is erupting in the Galapagos Islands and could harm unique wildlife.

The Galapagos National Park says La Cumbre volcano began spewing lava, gas and smoke on uninhabited Fernandina Island on Saturday after four years of inactivity.

The park says in a statement the eruption is not a threat to people living on nearby Isabela Island.

But it says lava flowing to the sea will likely affect marine and terrestrial iguanas, wolves and other fauna.

The Galapagos are home to unique animal and plant species that became the basis for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

Scientists say Fernandina is the island with the most volcanic activity in the archipelago. La Cumbre last erupted in May 2005.

©2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

• Modernmystic - Apr 12, 2009
  • Rank: 3.7 / 5 (6)
  Maybe they should pass a regulation on how many eruptions should occur per year and where...
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• snwboardn - Apr 12, 2009
  • Rank: 3.7 / 5 (6)
  or at least a volcano tax
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• zevkirsh - Apr 12, 2009
  • Rank: 4 / 5 (4)
  what about just trying to plant trees to offset the volcanoes carbon and greenhouse gas emissions? or why not just plug it up?
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• Bob_B - Apr 12, 2009
  • Rank: 1 / 5 (3)
  I'm sure Karl Rove can find a way to interrogate this terrorist event. Maybe waterboard it to help save the animals?
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• k_m - Apr 12, 2009
  • Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
  What do you mean the island didn't sign on to kyoto?
  Should cap and trade to another country that doesn't have their own volcano
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• Suzu - Apr 12, 2009
  • Rank: 1 / 5 (2)
  Their carbon footprint increased by 0.9%
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• theophys - Apr 13, 2009
  • Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
  I don't think anybody actualy gives a crap about the gasses. It's all those nifty plants and animals unique to that region that give us greenies a heart attack. Then again, evolution dictates that if you're not genetically fit enough to survive a swim in lava flow, you probably shouldn't be dirtying up the gene pool anyway.
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• rwinners - Apr 14, 2009
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  Hilarious isn't it? Look at the Gallapagos in Google Earth. The whole chain is one huge volcanic hotspot. Whatever happens, we won't be able to effect it one bit.
  These guys need to step back and get bigger picture.
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