Floreana has a good supply of fresh water,
an important factor which ensured the early occupation of this
island by settlers.
There are three official visitor sites on the island :-
Devil's Crown ; Punta Cormorán ; Post Office Bay.
We also visited the residence of the Wittmer family at Black Beach,
courtesy of our captain - Rolf Wittmer.
Devil's
Crown ( or Onslow Island ) is an almost
submerged volcano just off Punta Cormoran and offers some of the
best snorkeling in the Galapagos
Devil's Crown
Closer up
Snorkeling
Patricia our Guide
Jürgen
resident sea-lion
Punta Cormorán has
"green sand" composed of Olivine crystals of magnesium
and iron silicates.
There is wide variety of plant life
Sea-Lions
Sea-Lions
Sea-Lions
photgraphing
Sea-Lions
a brackish lagoon
Passion Flower
fruit
Lichens
multi-coloured lichens
"Flour" beach
be careful of Rays!
Leave only footprints
Class begins
Karin, Graham &
Deitmarr
Patricia - our knowledgable guide
Leo ( in the centre ! )
Wolfgang
Jürgen
Post Office
Bay - site of the Post Office barrel
in which whalers placed their mail for distribution by other
visitors to the island. Not the prettiest site we visited
but very interesting. Most of our party collected postcards
for distribution and left their own. My card to my wife reached
home before I did !
approaching
Post Office Bay
Jürgen on the bow
Post Office Bay
Post Office Barrel
Post Office Barrel
Patricia with
Hans Heinrich
Inspecting the mail
Graham (me)
Stamping the cards
Inspecting the mail
Karin
Black
Beach - based at Puerto Velasco Ibara is the residence
of the Wittmer family. They are closely connected with the history
of the Galapagos, especially Floreana and their story makes fascinating
reading.
The place itself is not very picturesque but the history gives it
a special atmosphere. A few giant tortoises were kept ( legally
) behind the residence.
