Redonda Rock

Redonda Rock^[a] (Spanish: Roca Redonda, "Round Rock") is a flat-topped, steep-sided islet located roughly 25 km (16 mi) northwest of the island of Isabela in Ecuador's Galápagos 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 nesting seabirds.^[4]

Not to be confused with Redonda in the Caribbean or Rodondo Island in Australia.

Roca Redonda
Redonda Rock (1966)
Highest point
Elevation	67 m (220 ft)
Prominence	67 m (220 ft)
Coordinates	0°16′N 91°38′W
Geography
Roca Redonda Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Geology
Mountain type	Shield volcano
Last eruption	Unknown

This small volcanic island is the remains of a large shield 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 submarine fumaroles 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

• Volcanoes of the Galápagos Islands
• List of volcanoes in Ecuador

Notes

1. The name sometimes also appears as Redondo Rock.^[1][2]

References

Citations

1. McEwen (1988), p. 235.
2. Kitchin, Thomas (1797), "South America", Kitchin's General Atlas..., London: Laurie & Whittle.
3. "Roca Redonda". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
4. Hess, John (2009). The Galápagos: Exploring Darwin's Tapestry. University of Missouri Press. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-8262-1837-7.
5. "The emergence of a Galápagos shield volcano, Roca Redonda". Springer-Verlag. Retrieved 1 October 2023.

Bibliography

• 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.