| The Galapagos Hot Spot and its source of | | | | beneath the northwestern region of the |
| volcanic activity Volcanic islands that originated | | | | Galápagos Archipelago near Fernandina and |
| with the activity of a hot spot, are amazing | | | | Isabela. |
| locations on Earth because of their continuous | | | | The width of the hot spot is estimated to be |
| change. The islands follow a chain pattern where | | | | approximately 150 kilometers (100 miles). Since |
| the older islands are found in the East, while the | | | | the Galapagos Islands are moving with the Nazca |
| younger islands are found in the West. | | | | plate and the hot spot remains stationary, the |
| This very simple geological feature is responsible | | | | islands form and slowly drift away from the hot |
| for the unique development of flora and fauna, | | | | spot, at about 5cm per year, allowing more |
| rates of erosion, frequency of volcanic eruptions, | | | | volcanoes and islands to be formed. Since the |
| and of course, the always unpredictable rates of | | | | Galapagos Islands move with the Nazca plate in |
| colonization. Geologists explain this with lots of | | | | an east-southeast direction the older islands are |
| interesting facts. The theory states that there is | | | | found in the southeast. The newly forming islands |
| a Mantle Plume that is relatively stationary. This | | | | are located in the northwest. Since all of the |
| mantle plume is of intense heat and deforms the | | | | volcanoes are formed underwater, the material |
| land above it. The crustal plate rides over the hot | | | | forming them builds and accumulates as it spreads |
| spot and is occasionally perforated by the molten | | | | out like a sand hill. This process creates the islands |
| rock that is rising from the Earth's mantle. The | | | | in the form of a volcano with gentle sloping sides |
| crust above, is forced upward because of the | | | | and a central vent. |
| heat, and volcanoes are formed. | | | | This type of volcano is known as a shield volcano. |
| The previously formed islands then move slowly | | | | The greatness of the Galapagos Islands wildlife, is |
| away from the hot spot, making room for new | | | | certainly enhanced by the beauty of its many |
| islands to be formed by further volcanic activity. | | | | geological features. The Hot Spot theory is one |
| The older volcanoes eventually become inactive | | | | way of explaining, not only why change rules in |
| and slowly erode into the ocean depths. Hot | | | | oceanic islands, but also how wildlife has adapted |
| Spots are responsible for the formation of Hawaii, | | | | to the different islands that make up this |
| the Galápagos, and other island chains. The | | | | ever-changing land. |
| Galápagos Hot Spot is currently located | | | | |