The Galapagos Islands

Over 20 million years ago, volcanic activity began in the Pacific Ocean. The Galapagos Islands are full of volcanos. These islands sit off the coast of Ecuador in South America. They are one of the most interesting spots on Earth in terms of plants and animals.

Volcanos erupted through the cracks between plates of the Earth’s crust. The Galapagos Islands are at the edges of three different tectonic plates. Some of the islands formed when the plates crashed into each other. Because the volcanic soil is rich in nutrients, many types of plants can grow. There are still nine active volcanoes in this string of islands.