Floreana Island

Floreana Island Latest News

More than 150 giant tortoises have been recently reintroduced to Floreana Island in Ecuador’s famed Galapagos archipelago, where they disappeared more than a century ago.

About Floreana Island

• Floreana, officially “Santa Maria,” is located on the southern end of the Galápagos Archipelago off the west coast of continental Ecuador. 
• Spanning approximately 173 sq.km., it is a volcanic landmass.
• Situated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean — roughly 1,000 kilometers from the mainland coast — it remains a remote and vital ecological site.
• It supports a range of habitats, including coastal lagoons, volcanic highlands, and offshore reefs.
• It was the first island to be colonized by Ecuadorians in 1832. It was a penal colony that didn’t last long because of the lack of fresh water. 
• Today, only around 150 people live here, most in the small coastal settlement of Puerto Velasco Ibarra, one of the smallest and most isolated communities in the Galapagos.
• The majority of the inhabitants of Floreana Island still make a living through farming. 
• The main water source for the entire island is one natural pond that only fills up during the rainy season.
• It is known for the historic Post Office Bay, where a barrel mail system (dating to the 18th century) is still used by visitors.
• Of all the Galápagos Islands, Floreana is the one most affected by the presence of humans and their introduction of goats, which ended up roaming loose on the island for many years. 
• The goats and some other non-native species were completely removed by the Galápagos National Park in 2007.
• It has the highest concentration of species threatened by invasive mammals of any Galápagos Island, with 54 IUCN Red-Listed species present.

Source: ETVB

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