The entire Galapagos Archipelago is spread across an area of about 60,000 square kilometers (23,000 square miles). The volcanoes here make up one of the most active volcanic areas in the world, and are of great scientific inportance. The land mass of the islands has resulted from volcanic action which built up the land in one of either two ways: layering or uplifting.

Most of the islands have the classic shield shape that we associate with oceanic volcanoes. Some of the islands have one dominant cone with small subsidiary cones littering its slopes. These mountainous islands are formed by successive eruptions that build up layer upon layer of lava and ash. This, of course, on already-existent land or under water. If it is the latter, the mountain may eventually reach such size that its peak reaches the surface and it then appears as an island.

The view in the picture here shows the spectacular cliffs of the inside of an old caldera, home to hundreds of seabird species amongst which reign the red-billed tropicbirds. It is in this area, after an interesting panga ride, that we made a dry landing at the site this picture was taken from. It is known as "Prince Philip's steps". This name was given to the area after a visit by Britain's Prince Philip in 1964, and offers spectacular views of the old collapsed caldera of this very old volcano. The outer wall of the caldera fell into the sea allowing the sea to invade, and ships to enter, this mysterious bay known as Darwin's Bay.