A Primeval Landscape

We visited the island of Santiago. Part of it was home to very young lava flows. These pahoehoe flows were just over 100 years old as they happened in 1897, mere foetuses in geological terms. Life had barely started returning to this landscape. Some tiny lichen here and there and small pockets of wee lava cacti.

Click on the panorama below to enlarge it.

 The lava flowed had formed tubes, pots and cracks, some of which were quite deep. The lava was such that it looked like it could have solidified yesteday. In parts it was perfectly smooth and shiny. In others it had created ripples where it encountered resistance or began to cool. The warm lava rock was pleasant and soothing to lie on creating a natural massage.

 Within the lava forms were fantastic shapes. With the tiniest bit of imagination the lava comes to life as forms of animals and scenes spring to the eye. I spied an iguana swimming through water in the shape of the lava below.