WINSTON WEEKLY

August 23, 2026

Vol. 4, No. 34

FASINATING FLOREANA[1]

Floreana Island, one of the many islands of Galapagos, is home to Post Office Bay. Centuries earlier, whalers left letters in a wooden barrel as a makeshift postal box, often their only form of communication to distant ports in England, the United States, and other locations. Today, Post Office Bay is a popular spot for visitors to drop their unstamped letters and post cards for delivery. Visitors can even take one or two from the barrel addressed to individuals in their homeland to deliver upon their return. Hand-delivery is preferred, although some have been stamped and sent after visitors return home.

In addition to the makeshift postal box, the island has an abundance of interesting history and animals. In the 1920’s, Norwegian fisherman attempted their hand at a canning and fishing colony. Their efforts failed after only two years, leaving behind foundation walls, pillars, and steel cauldrons used to render whale blubber. Harsh conditions and the lack of fresh water doomed efforts at colonization. A few years later, a German doctor and his female companion made their way to the island, building a large garden and living off the land. Margaret Wittmer and her husband arrived in the early 1930’s, and were soon joined by their son Rolf, the first person born in Galapagos.

Goats eventually wreaked havoc on the island, leading to their removal in 2007. Less than 200 residents of the island today focus on sustainable agriculture, filtering drinking water, and restoring the bird population. The area’s primary water source is a pond that fills during the rainy season.

WEEKLY ACTIVITY

Create a short story or poem based on the history of Floreana Island, or explore the species of birds on the island, including finch, mockingbirds, and owls.

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[1]Winston Weekly is a weekly blog and newsletter by Alysen Bayles of Bayles Connect: “Learn, live, love, read.” Resources: Galapagos Travel Center, www.galapagosislands.com; Nina Strochlic, This is the World’s Most Unusual Post Office, National Geographic, Sept. 18, 2017; Margaret Wittmer, Floreana: A Woman’s Pilgrimage to the Galapagos, Anthony Nelson, Shropshire UK Publisher, Jan. 1989.