Galapagos Islands: Blog #4: Lava Tubes in the Galapagos

Traditional Caves in the Galapagos Islands are not as predominant as lava tubes. Lava tubes can be found on the town of Bellavista on the island of Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is the most populated island of the Galapagos and where most tourists start their exploration. The Charles Darwin Research Station is located in Santa Cruz as well as, Galapagos National Park Headquarters and Giant Tortoise Preserves.

In Bellavista one can find lava tunnels. Lava tunnels are formed when volcanic eruptions occur. Next the top of the lava flow hardens, while the inside of the lava continues to maintain extreme temperature and creatives tubes.

Entrance to lava tube: Source:http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/3762135

Inside lava tube: http://svsoggypaws.blogspot.com/2010_01_01_archive.html

Below is a diagram of how a lava tube is formed...

When a volcano erupts in the Galapagos, lava flow creates lava sculptures in these lava tubes, called Stalactites. In the lava tubes a verity of structures form when hot lava flows into the tubes causing lava to splashes onto ceilings, walls and ground. When lava hardens it creates speleothems an example is flowstone fielding and stalactites. Flowstone fielding occurs when lava begins to cool and slows down in speed than it clumps into all sorts of shapes. Both Shark tooth and Splash Stalactites are hanging Stalactites. They form when a rush of lava splashes and hits the ceiling of the tube. Temperature and humidity drop which then allows the lava time to harden until the next flow of lava adds to the formation (pictures 1&2 below).

Source: http://fast.ucdenver.edu/case/1202/Landscapes/KarCoast/Karst/FlowstoneFielding.jpg

Source: http://www.goodearthgraphics.com/virtual_tube/virtube.html

Lava flow makes rigid markings along the path it is navigating through. This type of solid framework is typical of pahoehoe. Pahoehoe are made of basaltic rock meaning smooth, it's temperature reads between 1100 to 1200 degrees celsius. Although pahoehoe's can be seen in different shapes, one of the most predominant is ropy pahoehoe (Picture 3 on the right) and one of the lest seen is dentritic pahoehoe (Picture 3 on the left).

Los Gemelos:

Located on the island of Santa Cruz, Los Gemelos translations to , "The Twins" . These are two sink holes they were created when a volcanic eruption failed to explode, causing an implosion. The force of the magma along with pressure caused the area around it to sink.