Santiago, also known as James island, is located to the north-west of Santa Cruz in the equatorial islands of the Galapagos. Santiago is most famous for its early human use as a salt mine. James Bay, the most popular and traversed area of this island, is located on the west side, and is best known for Puerto Egas, an astounding salt crater. This distinct crater was named after Hector Egas, the owner of a salt mining company during the 1960’s. Most visitors to this area of the island travel to take in the breathtaking multicolored cliffs of volcanic ash that have been polished over time by the sea. These cliffs create an intricate pattern along the rocky beaches of Santiago. James Bay is home to a colony of nearly extinct fur seals, the Galapagos Hawks, and a few species of Darwin’s finches. The spectacular tidal pools that lie within this bay are inhabited by a grand variety of undersea life, including the rare fur sea lions that swim freely in the clear, pristine pools of water. A Few other signature sites on Santiago Island are SugarLoaf Volcano which rises to a peak of 1300 feet and Beach Espumilla which houses a spectacular flamingo lagoon. On the east side of the island sits yet another body of water, Sullivan Bay, famous for its conelike volcano and various types of lava rock which have been studied by many for years. The glazed black lava rock of this eastern bay has been so well preserved, at times it may seem as if the lava is still in a molten state.