geology
I already said the Galapagos Islands are volcanic, which means that a volcanoe formed them. Firstly the volcano was not just any sort of volcano, it was a hot spot or mantle plume, which is like a volcano, except it is far underground, in a fixed spot. This means that when the ground or tectonic plate above it moves, the hotspot stays in the same place. In a million years or so another volcano will pop up, a little bit to the side of the last one. There is a picture above to help with my useless explaining skills. This hot spot is thought to be 2,800 kilometres deep.
Fernandina is the youngest island being only 5000 years old, it has the most active volcano at the moment, called La Cumbre.
The oldest parts of the Galapagos are in the east and are roughly 4 million years old. The youngest are still black and erupting, they are in the west.
The islands are mostly formed of basalt, which is what a type of lava is made of. Basalt lava volcanoes are more common in the sea. They shape volcanos often called shield volcanos because they are more rounded and spread out.
Fernandina is the youngest island being only 5000 years old, it has the most active volcano at the moment, called La Cumbre.
The oldest parts of the Galapagos are in the east and are roughly 4 million years old. The youngest are still black and erupting, they are in the west.
The islands are mostly formed of basalt, which is what a type of lava is made of. Basalt lava volcanoes are more common in the sea. They shape volcanos often called shield volcanos because they are more rounded and spread out.
The galapagos islands have a sort of life cycle if you will. After one million years of erupting, an island will grow up out of the sea. In two million years a range of plants and animals will make their home on the island. After four million years the island will sink under its own weight, and erosion. then all that is left will be the lip of the volcanoes crater. but even as the island is dying, it creates homes for corals under the sea. These in turn make homes for fish, which are food for larger animals, such as birds and dolphins.
Really old galapagos islands have been known to stretch under the sea for hundreds of kilometres. |
The islands
There are 16 main islands that make up the Galapagos Islands in all, as well as 42 tiny islets. most of the islands will have more than one name but these ones are the most used ones. Here is a list of the eleven biggest islands in order of biggest to smallest.
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Some of the Galapagos Islands are big enough to make their own weather. The clouds are forced up the slope of a volcano, but by this time the clouds have given up the go and rain, or become mist for some of the cloud forests.
statistics
Total land area: around 13 km
Highest point: wolf volcano at 1707 meters above sea level.
Population: 27000
Tourist population: around 160 000
There are 14 main volcanos on the Galapagos Islands in all.
Here is a list of volcanos and landmarks in order from tallest to lowest.
A few of the volcanos are also an island made up of one volcano in them selves.
Wolf
The wolf volcano is the highest volcano, and point in the Galapagos Islands. It is 1707 meters high, and it has the coolest name. It got its name form Theodor Wolf who was a German naturalist who studied the Galápagos Islands during the late nineteenth century. The Wolf is on the island Isabela.
Cerro Azul
The Cerro Azul is 1689 meters high. It last erupted in June 2008. Its name is Spanish and it means blue hill. Cerro Azul lies on isabela.
La Cumbre
La Cumbre is 1476 meters high. It is on Fernandia and last erupted in April 2009.
Darwin
There is hardly any information on the Darwin volcano, except that it is named after Charles Darwin, and that it is around 1200 meters high. It is on the island Isabela.
Alcedo
Alcedo is 1130 meters high. It houses the most Galapagos tortoises and it last erupted in 1993. It lives on Isabela Island.
Sierra Negra
This volcano is 1124 meters high. It is on the island Isabela. In Spanish its name means Black Mountain and it last erupted in October 2005.
Santa Cruz
Santiago
Pinta
San Cristóbal
Cerro Pajas
Marchena
Genovesa
A few of the volcanos are also an island made up of one volcano in them selves.
Wolf
The wolf volcano is the highest volcano, and point in the Galapagos Islands. It is 1707 meters high, and it has the coolest name. It got its name form Theodor Wolf who was a German naturalist who studied the Galápagos Islands during the late nineteenth century. The Wolf is on the island Isabela.
Cerro Azul
The Cerro Azul is 1689 meters high. It last erupted in June 2008. Its name is Spanish and it means blue hill. Cerro Azul lies on isabela.
La Cumbre
La Cumbre is 1476 meters high. It is on Fernandia and last erupted in April 2009.
Darwin
There is hardly any information on the Darwin volcano, except that it is named after Charles Darwin, and that it is around 1200 meters high. It is on the island Isabela.
Alcedo
Alcedo is 1130 meters high. It houses the most Galapagos tortoises and it last erupted in 1993. It lives on Isabela Island.
Sierra Negra
This volcano is 1124 meters high. It is on the island Isabela. In Spanish its name means Black Mountain and it last erupted in October 2005.
Santa Cruz
Santiago
Pinta
San Cristóbal
Cerro Pajas
Marchena
Genovesa
Lava tunnels are created when a volcano has just erupted. A flow of lava starts to solidify, just around the edges, creating a sort of tunnel of crust. The molten lava flows out of this crust, leaving it behind, and now you have a lava tunnel. These lava tunnels are all over the Galapagos, some you can walk through. There is a constant trickle of water in the tunnels, so there is also life. Many unique creepy bugs and insects live in the tunnels, most are blind or colourless, as it is so dark there is no need for eyes, or colour to show off.
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where are they?
The Galapagos Islands are officially part of Ecuador and are around about 950 km from the mainland, South America, Ecuador.
The equator runs through the top half of Isabela, while the most of the rest of the islands are below the equator.
The Galapagos Islands lie just below the Nazca tectonic plate.
Because the plates on to top of the hotspot are always moving it means that the Galapagos Islands are always moving too. Right now the Galapagos are moving westwards.
The Galapagos Islands are officially part of Ecuador and are around about 950 km from the mainland, South America, Ecuador.
The equator runs through the top half of Isabela, while the most of the rest of the islands are below the equator.
The Galapagos Islands lie just below the Nazca tectonic plate.
Because the plates on to top of the hotspot are always moving it means that the Galapagos Islands are always moving too. Right now the Galapagos are moving westwards.