Why are volcanoes normally near a coast?

Volcanoes are only coincidentally near a coastline. Volcanoes are usually found above the leading edge of a tectonic plate as it is forced under the edge of another plate. read more

They are normally located. Inland from where one tectonic plste is diving under another. ie the west coast of North America. With a string of vocanors stretching from N. California into British Columbia. In this case the North American plate is moving westward and riding over top of the Juan de Fuca plate. read more

They are located near or along plate boundaries for example along the west coast of North and South America. Earthquakes form when two plates collide or quickly slide past each other. For a volcano to form hot magma has to be forced into the surface which can happen plates move apart or when one is forced down. read more