How did all those islands get there?

How did all those islands get there???

Can you believe that the islands were actually "born" out there? They were formed by volcanoes that bubbled up out of the ocean. After they came to the surface of the ocean, they moved over and more islands bubbled up.

It is hard to imagine, but it is true!!! The rocky islands that we see today were hot, molten rock that cooled down and made the islands!

We know this because some of the islands are still forming. In 2005 there was an eruption on Isabela Island's Sierra Negra Volcano and at the top of this volcano you can see the shiny new black lava rock. Near Fernandina Island is the  “Hot Spot” where the hot melted rock, called magma, breaks through the crust of the earth at the bottom of the ocean. The magma flows out into the sea and continues to build islands.

But don't worry, although Galapagos has many active volcanoes on the western islands of Isabela and Fernandina, that should not be a concern if you and your family want to visit. It's quite exciting when a volcano does erupt and many people come just to see this event.

Most of the islands are far away from the “Hot Spot” and haven't had eruptions for many, many years. Vulcanologists (scientists who study volcanoes) say that these  are “ extinct”  volcanoes and will never be active again.