After making his fortune in America at the beginning of the 19th century, the Basque Léon Uthurburu became the owner of the island of Floreana, in the Galápagos archipelago (Ecuador).
When he died, he bequeathed his fortune and his island to his native village, Barcus (Pyrénées-Atlantiques).
However, the town has never been able to recover its piece of land lost in the Pacific Ocean, says
Ouest-France
.
Born in 1803, Léon Uthurburu decided to go to Ecuador.
There, he became a trader then banker and creditor of recognized political figures such as the Venezuelan Simon Bolivar or General Villamil.
The latter being unable to repay his debts, he ceded the deserted island of Floreana to the Basque.
A hundred inhabitants
When Barcus tried, on the death of his benefactor, to recover his property, his property rights were disputed by the general's descendants and then by the Ecuadorian government.
The last unsuccessful attempt by the village to recover the territory dates back to 1970. Today, about a hundred people live in Floreana.
Travel
Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Bora Bora: the most beautiful archipelago in the world in four stopovers
Planet
New Caledonia: Fifteen earthquakes in one day off the Loyalty Islands
Paul
Heritage
Company