Floreana Island
The Galápagos Islands were incorporated as Ecuadorian territory in 1832 and claimed as “Archipelago del Ecuador.” The capital of the 20th province of Ecuador was set on the island of Floreana.
At the time, the mass arrival of men and introduced species was shocking for the fragile environments of Galápagos. As the time passed, the presence of human inhabitants caused many imbalances in the ecosystem that have required the intensive and efficient population restoration programs that exist today.
As we disembark today, at the famous Post Office Barrel – setup as a drop-off and pick-up point for correspondence by whalers centuries ago – we know we are engaging in an age-old ritual that has been repeated thousands of times. There is a great deal of humanity all around, however it is still possible to smell, to sense, and to feel the purest expression of nature in places like Floreana. No matter how many generations of people have been born on the islands, ever since the days of Patrick Watkins in the late 1700’s, nature offers by far the most omnipresent presence in the archipelago.
The trail seemed to move under our feet as we enjoyed the views in this formidable environment. In spite of how much we know of the human enterprises in the Galápagos, the strong smell the lagoon and the salty breeze coming off the ocean offer us a profound communion with the natural world.
We now know that the better our comprehension of nature, the better our chances to improve our quality of life.
