Marchena is the
Galapagos' seventh biggest island and the biggest island with no
visitor sites. It covers an area of 50 square miles (130 square
kilometers) and rises to 1,125 feet (343 meters) above sea
level.
The island consists of a single volcano which remains active
and has had a lot of volcanic activity, though there is only one
known eruption, which occurred in 1992. Marchena has a caldera,
like many islands, Marchena's caldera however, has been almost
completely filled with young lavas, some of which has spilled
over and down the sides. The oldest lavas are 500,000 years old.
Most visitors only see Marchena if they sail around the northern
part of Isabela on the way to Tower Island, its nearest neighbor
about 45 miles due west. The island's name comes from a Spanish
monk, Frey Antonio de Marchena. The English knew it as Bindloe,
after John Bindloe a ship's captain.
Marchena is rather desolate and has no fresh water and hence has
never been settled, and its flora and fauna have not been
disturbed by feral animals or introduced plants. Except for
diving in the waters around it, it is off-limits to tourists and
is therefore seldom visited. Tortoises have apparently never
inhabited Marchena.
