Floreana Island
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Floreana Island is an island of the Galápagos Islands. It was named after Juan José Flores, the first president of Ecuador, during whose administration the government of Ecuador took possession of the archipelago. It was previously called Charles Island (after King Charles II of England), and Santa María after one of the caravels of Columbus.
The island has an area of Template:Convert. It was formed by volcanic eruption. The island's highest point is Cerro Pajas at Template:Convert, which is also the highest point of the volcano like most of the smaller islands of Galápagos.
History
Since the 19th century, whalers kept a wooden barrel at Post Office Bay, so that mail could be picked up and delivered to their destination by ships on their way home, mainly to Europe and the United States. Cards and letters are still placed in the barrel without any postage. Visitors sift through the letters and cards in order to deliver them by hand.
