The Geological History of the Galapagos Islands
The Geological History of the Galapagos Islands Travel & Tourism The volcanic archipelago we know as the Galapagos Islands is situated almost 1,000kms off the coast of Ecuador, in South America, distributed over both sides of the Equator. With a landscape of extreme diversity and great beauty, the geology and natural history of this fascinating region are of enduring interest. For those who come to the islands on a Galapagos holiday, along with the endemic wildlife, the intriguing story of how they came to form is what lends it such a unique appeal. Islands Formed by Fire The area is located right on the Nazca tectonic plate, so is in a constant state of movement. Anywhere from 3-10 million years ago (relatively recent in the history of the universe) the archipelago was formed by constant volcanic eruptions as the tectonic plate (which is part of the Earth's crust) moved over particularly hot areas of the Earth's central core – the "mantle". (This is different ...