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Pacific Coast: Malpelo Island
Malpelo Island (Fig. 49) is an isolated rocky mass with 10 small keys located at 3º 58'30'' and 81º 35'20'', approximately 500 km west of Buenaventura Bay (Fig. 1). Malpelo has been interpreted as a portion of oceanic crust, probably a local manifestation of a "hot spot". It is composed mainly of pillow lavas, volcanic breccias, and Tertiary basaltic dikes (Lonsdale and Klitford 1978). The island is about 1850 m long, maximum 600 m wide, and 376 m high. Its surface is hard and without vegetation, and the coastline of the island consists entirely of cliffs up to 100 m high plunging directly into the sea (Fig. 50).
Figure 49. Panorama of Malpelo Island, view to the north. Photo by I. Correa. |
Figure 50. Cliffs on the eastern shore of Malpelo Island. Photo by I. Correa. |
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