How was hawaii formed. The hawaiian islands are believed to be formed from one such hot spot. A controversial alternative theory. The hawaiian islands are believed to be formed from one such hot spot.
How did the hawaiian islands form. With time the volcanoes keep drifting westward and getting older relative to the one active volcano that is over the hot spot. The cycle of volcanic birth and extinction has left behind a trail of islands.
The hawaiian islands were formed by volcanic activity. Some theories have been formulated on how the hawaiian islands were formed apart from the above volcanic process. Since hawaii is located on a hot spot it is very common for volcanoes to form and erupt there.
Over millions of years five volcanoes erupted to create the eight islands of hawaii. One of them is the theory which argues that the hawaiian islands were formed due to the impact of an asteroid which fell on the sea. The hawaiian emperor seamount chain is a well known example of a large seamount and island chain created by hot spot volcanism.
As the plate moves away the volcano stops erupting and a new one is formed in its place. When the lava in a volcano hardens the rock that is formed is called basalt. Hawaii is essentially a chain of massive volcanoes that are rooted to the ocean floor and joined together.