Said to be the island that prompted Charles Darwin to look more closely at the differences between Galapagos animal inhabitants, the island of Floreana encompasses some of the liveliest human history in the island chain.
Floreana, which is also known as Santa Maria Island, was the location of the 1934 Galapagos Affair, a free-love type colony that set up "shop" on the island as a type of social and romantic experiment that left five individuals dead. Several relatives of the infamous love colony still reside here, including the children and grandchildren of the colony's most famous resident, Margaret Wittmer.
Endowed with one of the most comfortable climates in the Galapagos, the island's many natural features are easily explored from Floreana. The most famous residents are the Floreana finches; though, many other vibrant birds also make their home here as well, including many large pink feathered avians at the flamingo lagoon.
Entomologists will have a heyday here, as more than 200 species of ants have been identified on Floreana alone.
Uncover the theory of evolution on Floreana
Posted on Friday, April 6th, 2012
