{"id":9655,"date":"2013-12-29T22:44:47","date_gmt":"2013-12-30T03:44:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/?p=9655"},"modified":"2013-12-29T22:44:47","modified_gmt":"2013-12-30T03:44:47","slug":"santa-cruz-highlands-galapagos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/2013\/12\/29\/santa-cruz-highlands-galapagos\/","title":{"rendered":"Santa Cruz Highlands, Gal\u00e1pagos"},"content":{"rendered":"

Santa Cruz is the second-largest island in the Gal\u00e1pagos and has the largest population, about 12,000 people, mostly in the town of Puerto Ayora.
\n\"<\/a>
\nDuring the rainy season the highlands in the center of the island receive enough rain to support a fair amount of agriculture.
\n\"Santa<\/a>
\n
\n\"Santa<\/a>
\n\"Lava<\/a>
\nThis crater resulted from a large bubble that formed in the lava and hardened. Later the roof of the bubble collapsed.
\n\"Las<\/a>
\n“Las Primicias” is a ranch with two tourist attractions: giant tortoises and a lava tunnel.
\n\"Laval<\/a>
\nThe lava tunnel formed because the top and sides of the lava flow hardened first, allowing the hot lava in the center to flow out. This tunnel is about 1 kilometer long. We didn’t try to walk the whole length.
\n\"Tortoise<\/a>
\nThe ranch doesn’t raise giant tortoises. They are wild and just wander in, attracted by the two small fresh-water ponds. Farmers used to try to discourage tortoises but this one just charges an admission fee.
\n\"Tortoise\"<\/a>
\n\"Finch\"<\/a>
\nA finch.
\n\"Egret\"<\/a>
\nAn egret.
\n\"Egret<\/a>
\n\"Tortoise\"<\/a>
\nUnafraid of the annoying humans, a tortoise makes its way to the pond.
\n