Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which natural process was primarily responsible for the formation of the Galápagos Islands?
A
Glacial erosion
B
Volcanic activity
C
Plate subduction
D
River deposition
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the geological processes listed in the problem. Glacial erosion refers to the wearing away of land by glaciers, typically forming valleys and fjords, not islands. River deposition involves the accumulation of sediments carried by rivers, which can form deltas but is not responsible for island formation.
Step 2: Recognize that plate subduction is a tectonic process where one tectonic plate moves under another, often leading to volcanic activity. However, subduction zones typically form volcanic arcs rather than isolated islands like the Galápagos.
Step 3: Focus on volcanic activity. Volcanic activity occurs when magma from the Earth's mantle reaches the surface, forming landmasses. This process is responsible for the creation of many islands, including the Galápagos Islands, which are located on a volcanic hotspot.
Step 4: Understand the concept of a hotspot. A hotspot is a region in the Earth's mantle where heat rises, melting the crust above and forming volcanoes. The Galápagos Islands were formed as the Pacific Plate moved over a hotspot, leading to repeated volcanic eruptions that created the islands.
Step 5: Conclude that volcanic activity is the primary natural process responsible for the formation of the Galápagos Islands, as they are a result of hotspot volcanism rather than glacial erosion, river deposition, or plate subduction.