How are volcanoes distributed and where are they located?

The Earth's lithosphere is split into a number of tectonic plates. These plates are moved in different directions due convection currents in the mantle. Where two plates meet, it is called a plate boundary. read more

Volcanoes occur at any location where the Earth’s crust is broken allowing the magma within the Earth to escape. Volcanoes are commonly found at edges of tectonic plates. the so-called Ring of Fire that forms part of the Hawai’ian Islands are examples of this. read more

Volcanoes are distributed all around the world, mostly along the edges of tectonic Plates, although there are intra-plate volcanoes that form from mantle Hotspots (eg, Hawaii). Some volcanic regions, such as Iceland, happen to occur where there is both a hotspot and a plate boundary. read more

Volcanoes are found all over the world. Some are found in the Pacific Ring of Fire. Volcanoes are not just on land, they are also underwater. read more