Why are the youngest Hawaiian Island and the youngest Galapagos Island closest to each other?

The Formation of Hawaiian Islands vs. Galapagos Islands

Hawaiian Islands: The Hawaiian Islands are a result of hot-spot volcanism, specifically the Hawaiian Monarch seamount chain. The islands in this chain get progressively older as you move northwest, indicating the direction of the Pacific Oceanic plate movement. The hot spot in the center of the Pacific Plate remains fixed, leading to the construction of the Hawaiian Islands as the plate moves over it.

Galapagos Islands: Contrary to the Hawaiian Islands, the Galapagos Islands do not form a linear island chain due to the Galapagos thermal gradient. This gradient creates a more complex island formation pattern, showcasing the diverse tectonic activity and geological processes at play in this region.

Although both island chains are a result of tectonic activity over a hot spot, the differences in their geological settings and tectonic processes contribute to the unique island formations observed in the Hawaiian and Galapagos Islands.