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The 2021 Membership Challenge is of historic importance. We will soon launch the first expedition to Fernandina in the hopes of finding a mate for Fernanda, but we need your support. Your donation will be doubled by a generous donor to help reach our $120,000 goal!
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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Expedition Reveals Pink Land Iguana is on the Verge of Extinction
08.27.21 AUGUST 27, 2021 Conservation action is urgently required with an estimated... More >
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“Extinct” for 112 Years: Galapagos Giant Tortoise Rediscovery Confirmed
05.25.21 MAY 25, 2021 Urgent expeditions will be launched to find mate and save species.... More >
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NASA, Galapagos Conservancy Partner on Rewilding Galapagos Program
05.19.21 May 19, 2021 The Galapagos Islands have been the focus of perhaps the largest-scale... More >
Latest Blog Posts
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Rediscovering the Giant Tortoises and Magical Landscapes of Alcedo Volcano
By Wacho Tapia, Director of the Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative Alcedo... More >
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Documenting Galapagos Giant Tortoises: Walking Among Modern Dinosaurs
By Lucas Bustamante, co-founder at Tropical Herping and Giant Tortoise Restoration... More >
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‘Galapagos Giant Tortoises:’ Synthesis of a Half Century of Study and Conservation
By Linda Cayot, retired GC Science Advisor In July 2012 a mere two weeks... More >
