|
 Floreana or Santa Maria Island is the
sixth biggest island of the Galapagos. The island is roughly
rectangular, with sides about ten by seven miles long. The highest
point is 2,100 feet (640 meters) and its land area is 67 square
miles (173 square kilometers). Floreana is comprised of a single
inactive volcano, which is probably extinct. The official name of
Santa Maria comes from one of Columbus' ships but most people call
it Floreana after President Juan José Flores of Ecuador. Previously
the English had called it Charles in honor of King Charles II.
Because it has a small spring that bubbles from underground (and
occasionally dries up) it was a haven for pirates and whalers in the
17th and 18th centuries. Hence its wildlife has suffered from
competition with introduced animals, notably goats. Its subspecies
of giant tortoises is now extinct due to the pirates and whalers
who, scientists estimate, removed 15,000 tortoises for their meat.
The early visitors also introduced rats that eat the eggs and
hatchlings and so added to the demise of the tortoises. By 1840 the
tortoises were gone. Several species of plants are unique to
Floreana but are threatened by wild goats. For shelter, pirates
carved a marvelous complex of caves and tunnels in the soft volcanic
rock. Visitors to Floreana can visit the caves and get a feel for a
time lost in history. The island has been continuously inhabited
since the mid-1800s, and was the first of the Galapagos Islands to
support a permanent human population.
Floreana, surprisingly, has a population of about 70 permanent
residents. There isn't much to do here if you chose to stay, but you
can take a good few hikes (guided by a naturalist) and enjoy the
peace of the island. There is only one passenger boat every two
weeks from Puerto Ayora, but other transportation can be arranged.
|
|
|
|
|
General information |
|
|
Area : |
67 square miles (173 square kilometers) |
|
Maximum altitude : |
2,100 feet (640 meters) |
|
Population : |
70 |
|
Geographic features : |
Lave cave, green beach |
|
Getting there : |
Private tour |
|
Getting around : |
Walking, snorkeling |
|
Major sites : |
Post office bay, Punta Cormorant, Devil's crown,
Blacks' Beach, Flour Beach, Pirate caves |
|
Observations : |
Wet landing. There is one
hotel in the island that offers food and a
telephone service. |
|
|
|
|
Flora : |
Puncture vine
Mimosa
Palo Santo
Cutleaf Daisy
Mangroves
Velvet Daisy |
|
|
|
|
Fauna : |
Boobies
Penguins
Sea Lions
Flamingos
Sea Turtles
Sharks
Sting Rays
Tree finches |
| |
|
|
Activities : |
Walks
Snorkeling
Scuba diving
Bird watching
Restaurant
Hotel
Tours |
|
