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Galapagos is located on the Nazca tectonic plate. This perpetually moving plate is heading eastward over the Galapagos hot spot and has formed the chain of islands. The islands were formed through the layering and lifting of repeated volcanic action. This geographic movement is correlated to the age of the islands, as the eastern islands (San Cristóbal and Española) are millions of years older than the western islands (Isabela and Fernandina).
Most of the islands have a distinctive conical shape that is often associated with volcanic action. The mountainous islands have been formed through continuing eruption, building layer upon layer. Due to this volcanic formation, the islands are characterized by many steep slopes, with heights ranging from a few meters above sea level to more than 5000 feet above sea level.
Each major island, with the exception of the largest island, Isabela, consists of a single large volcano. Isabela was formed when six volcanoes joined above sea level. Geologically, the Galapagos Islands are quite young, probably no more than five million years old. Some of the westernmost islands, which are the most volcanically active, may only be hundreds of thousands of years old and are still being formed today.
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Latest News
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Española Tortoises Return Home Following Closure of Successful Breeding Program
06.15.20 June 15, 2020 With the release of the 15 original Espa ola Island tortoises... More >
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Park Rangers Release 840 Tortoise Hatchlings from Natural Nests
04.29.20 April 29, 2020 In March and April of this year, rangers with the Galapagos... More >
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Update on Galapagos During the Pandemic
04.22.20 April 22, 2020 The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting social distancing... More >
Latest Blog Posts
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A Fragile Landscape for Galapagos Penguins
By Caroline Cappello, PhD Candidate at the University of Washington, Godfrey... More >
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Anatomy of a Dataset: Investigating Changes in Galapagos Highland Flora
By Clare Peabody, Biostatistician for the Charles Darwin Foundation’s... More >
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On the Case: Galapagos Team Embarks on Search for ‘Most Wanted’ Giant Tortoise
By Lindsay Renick Mayer of Global Wildlife Conservation In February of 2019,... More >
