Area: 558 Sq. Kilometers
Maximum Altitude: 730 meters
Population: 5, 500
Size: 2nd largest next to Santa Cruz
LOCATION
The Galapagos Islands are located in the Southwest Pacific Ocean off of the coast of Ecuador at 0 degrees latitude and 91 degrees west longitude. The islands sit on the Nazca Plaquet and the movement of this plate results in the movement of the Islands about three to four centimeters southeast per year.
FORMATION
The Galapagos Islands were formed by volcanoes that developed as a result of eruptions that began three to five million years ago. The youngest lava is from the Pleistocene Age. Volcanoes are formed from the surfacing of hot spots that exist in the Earth. Multiple islands form from the movement of the plate. As, the plate moves, the island that has been formed moves away from the hot spot and makes room for another island to form over the hot spot. This series of events continues until the hot spot is no longer hot. The following diagram shows how these islands were formed.
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Maximum Altitude: 730 meters
Population: 5, 500
Size: 2nd largest next to Santa Cruz
LOCATION
The Galapagos Islands are located in the Southwest Pacific Ocean off of the coast of Ecuador at 0 degrees latitude and 91 degrees west longitude. The islands sit on the Nazca Plaquet and the movement of this plate results in the movement of the Islands about three to four centimeters southeast per year.
FORMATION
The Galapagos Islands were formed by volcanoes that developed as a result of eruptions that began three to five million years ago. The youngest lava is from the Pleistocene Age. Volcanoes are formed from the surfacing of hot spots that exist in the Earth. Multiple islands form from the movement of the plate. As, the plate moves, the island that has been formed moves away from the hot spot and makes room for another island to form over the hot spot. This series of events continues until the hot spot is no longer hot. The following diagram shows how these islands were formed.
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