Galapagos volcano erupts, could threaten wildlife

April 12, 2009
Galapagos volcano erupts, could threaten wildlife (AP)

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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 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Modernmystic
Apr 12, 2009

Rank: 3.3 / 5 (7)
Maybe they should pass a regulation on how many eruptions should occur per year and where...
snwboardn
Apr 12, 2009

Rank: 3.7 / 5 (6)
or at least a volcano tax
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?
Bob_B
Apr 12, 2009

Rank: 2 / 5 (4)
I'm sure Karl Rove can find a way to interrogate this terrorist event. Maybe waterboard it to help save the animals?
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
Suzu
Apr 12, 2009

Rank: 1 / 5 (2)
Their carbon footprint increased by 0.9%
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.
rwinners
Apr 14, 2009

Rank: not rated yet
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.
Rank 4.7 /5 (27 votes)
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