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Discovering Galapagos

Galapagos Conservation TrustGalapagos Conservation Trust

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  • Discovering Galapagos
  • Discover
    • Life on the Islands
      • Wildlife of Galapagos
        • Colonisation
        • Classification and Keys
        • Animals and Plants
        • Wildlife of Galapagos Quiz
      • Ecology and Habitats
        • Habitat Zones
        • Environmental Threats
        • Food Chains and Webs
        • Ecology and Habitats Quiz
        • Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health
      • Evolution and Genetics
        • Basic Concepts in Genetics
        • Charles Darwin and Natural Selection
        • Adapting to Environments
        • Evolution and Genetics Quiz
    • Geographical Processes
      • Location and Formation
        • Plate Tectonics
        • Hydrothermal Vents
        • Hot Spots and Volcanoes
        • Location and Formation Quiz
        • Rock Types
      • Oceanography
        • The Humboldt Current
        • Oceanography Quiz
        • Upwelling
      • Weather and Climate
        • Seasons in Galapagos
        • Climate Change
        • Currents and Climates
        • Weather and Climate Quiz
        • El Niño
      • A Special Archipelago
    • Human History
      • Exploring Galapagos
        • Discovery of Galapagos
        • Pirates and Whalers
      • Permanent Settlement
        • Early Settlers
        • A Floating Prison
        • Early Colonisation
      • Charles Darwin
        • Voyage of the Beagle
        • Origin of Species: Darwin’s Impact
      • Interactive Timeline
    • Sustainable Development
      • Sustainability Principles
        • What is Sustainability?
        • Environment, Society and Economics
        • A Sustainable Environment
        • A Future for Galapagos
        • A Sustainable Society
        • Sustainability Principles Quiz
        • A Sustainable Economy
      • Conservation and Sustainability
        • The Value of Biodiversity
        • Marine Conservation
        • The Case for Conservation
        • Conservation and Sustainability Quiz
        • Terrestrial Conservation
      • Sustainable Tourism
        • History of Tourism
        • Managing Ecotourism in Galapagos
        • The Impacts of Tourism
        • Sustainable Tourism Quiz
        • Principles of Ecotourism
      • A Sustainable Galapagos
        • Population Growth and Land Zoning
        • Renewable Energy
        • Construction and Development
        • A Sustainable Galapagos Quiz
        • Food, Water and Waste
    • Galapagos Conservation at Work
      • Tortoise Trackers
        • The Galapagos Giant Tortoise
        • Tortoise Tracking
        • Science in the Field
        • Tortoise Trackers Quiz
      • Penguin Protectors
        • The Galapagos Penguin
        • More Bird Monitoring
        • What issues do Galapagos penguins face?
        • Penguin Protectors Quiz
        • Penguin Monitoring
      • Galapagos Shark Zone
        • Spotlight on Sharks
        • Tracking Ocean Giants
        • Rediscovering Galapagos Bullhead Sharks
    • Exploring Ocean Plastics
    • Glossary Hub
    • Species Hub
  • Evolution Zone
  • Teacher Zone
    • Teacher Zone
    • Discovering Galapagos at London Zoo
    • Tortoise Champions
    • Marine Iguana Magazine
    • Marti The Hammerhead Shark
  • Blog
  • About
    • Acknowledgements
    • Contact Us

Geographical Processes

Galapagos offers a wealth of geographical diversity and is one of the most volcanically active areas on Earth. Witness the constant evolution of the Islands as volcanic eruptions, climate change and human impact modify the wildlife, landscape and culture of the Islands. Find out how geographical processes work together to make this unique Archipelago so special.

The Mayon Composite Volcano (Philippines) erupting in 2009 © Tryfon Topalidis

Location and Formation »

The Galapagos Islands were formed millions of years ago by volcanic activity. Discover how tectonic shifts created the islands and how deep below the sea, organisms thrive in the vicinity of hydrothermal vents. 

Galapagos Places: Kicker Rock © Jen Jones

Oceanography »

Ocean surrounds the Galapagos Islands. Learn about how the Humboldt current and upwelling affect the Islands. 

Galapagos Graphics: A graph to show the fluctuations in temperature and rainfall in Galapagos © GalapagosIslands.com

Weather and Climate »

The climate of the Galapagos Islands varies between the seasons and also across the different areas of the islands such as the coastal areas and the higher elevations. Find out about the seasonal shifts on the Islands and about the predicted impact of climate change.

Galapagos Places: Picture of Floreana Island © Igor Starukha (creative commons 3.0)

A Special Archipelago »

There is no single reason for why the Galapagos Islands are as they are. They have been formed and shaped by a variety of different processes and would look quite different and have a different spectrum of plants and animals if any one of these processes were to change. In this way, Galapagos represents a […]

 
  • About the project
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  • Life on the Islands
  • Geographical Processes
  • Human History
  • Sustainable Development
  • Descubriendo Galapagos
  • Discovering Antarctica, Discovering the Arctic & Discovering Darwin (our sister sites)

© Galapagos Conservation Trust, 7-14 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4YR. Tel: (+44) 20 7399 7440,

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