Knowledge Nugget | Pacific Ring of Fire: What makes this region a tectonic hotspot?
The Pacific Ring of Fire, also known as the Circum-Pacific Belt, is an area where numerous earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur due to the movement of tectonic plates along the Pacific Ocean. Spanning over 40,000 kilometers, it is responsible for more than 75% of the world's active volcanoes and 90% of its earthquakes. This region is characterized by the interaction of several tectonic plates, including the Eurasian, North American, Pacific, Cocos, Nazca, and Caribbean plates, among others.
The Ring of Fire's reputation as a tectonic hotspot arises from the subduction of oceanic plates beneath continental plates, leading to the formation of deep trenches and volcanic arcs. As denser oceanic plates subduct beneath lighter continental plates, stress accumulates along the boundary, eventually resulting in powerful earthquakes and volcanic activity.
The 2025 Kamchatka earthquake, with a magnitude of 8.8, serves as a notable example of the destructive potential of subduction zones, which also caused a significant Pacific-wide tsunami.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
