Page 71 - 2003 - Atlantic Islands

There are beautiful and intriguing patterns in the basalt of the cliffs though Napoleon

probably never got a chance to realize that since he was not allowed to see the island

from the sea again. There are many layers clearly limned in the walls, no doubt

caused by successive outpourings of lava. There are syrupy cascading loops of lava

flowing down gentler slopes now frozen in time. There are great checkerboard

squares where some of the layers are horizontal and then abruptly will appear

vertical lines, creating questions about how such tipping of the layers could have

occurred. There are fractures and caves in the sheer walls where guano collects from

the many seabirds nesting there. However, there is no plant life on the walls though

you can see shrubs, grasses, and even trees along the very tops. 98% of this greenery

comes from invasive plants because over the course of its long history the ecology

and biology of the island have been completely changed due to the actions of man

and his imported beasties. There are no longer any indigenous animals and only one

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