How Fast Do Plates Move?
ES0810  Hawaiian Volcanoes

The Hawaiian islands are located near the middle of the Pacific Ocean, far from any plate boundary. This topographic map image shows that these volcanic islands are actually the tops of mountains that rise from the Pacific seafloor.

Geologic features that form a linear pattern are often related to one another. The ages of the features in the pattern can provide clues about how the features are related.

  !   Click the dots to see photographs of each island. Use the information to infer the relative ages of the islands.

Jennifer Loomis, TERC
Hawaiian Islands and topography of the surrounding seafloor

1. Which island do you think is youngest? …oldest? Explain your reasoning. 



	

 	

		
			
	

	
	

		 
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