North Seymour was originally created by a series of volcanic episodes, where submarine lava uplifts rose to form flat plains including those of neighbouring Baltra (South Seymour) and Santa Cruz Island. Today, its highest point on the island is only 90ft above sea level.
The island got its name from the distinguished English naval officer, Lord Hugh Seymour. It remains a flat and non-descript piece of land, strewn with boulders and rock. The most famous of its wildlife inhabitants are the sealions, often seen snoozing on the sand in between hunting for the fish in the bountiful surrounding waters.
North Seymour is also famed for its Great Frigatebird and Magnificent Frigatebird populations. These birds are the pirates of the sky, stealing food mid-air, not only from each other, but also from other birds like boobies. They are very abundant across the island, easily noticed in the sky with their sharp, forked tails.
Introduction of Land Iguanas
In the 1930s, the Handcock Expeditions made a serious undertaking to move 70 land iguanas from Baltra to North Seymour. The depletion of natural habitat caused by feral goats was threatening the very survival of the species on Baltra.
Today, according to the Galápagos National Park (GNP) there are now well over 2,500 thriving on North Seymour. Though they are not indigenous to North Seymour, they are clearly thriving there.
Together they coexist with large numbers of blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, common noddies, and frigatebirds.
