Pacific Ring of Fire

400px|thumb|Major earthquakes from 1900 to 2017

The Pacific Ring of Fire is an arc around the Pacific Ocean where many volcanoes and earthquakes are formed. The area is also called the Pacific Rim, a term which refers to the coastal areas of the countries round the Pacific.

About three quarters of the world's dormant volcanos and active volcanos are here. The ring is 40,000km long, and there are 452 volcanoes.

About 90% of the world's earthquakes and 81% of the world's largest earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire. The next most seismic region (5–6% of earthquakes and 17% of the world's largest earthquakes) is the Alpide belt, which extends from Java to Sumatra through the Himalayas, the Mediterranean, and out into the Atlantic. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is the third most prominent earthquake belt.U.S. Geological Survey Earthquakes FAQ .U.S. Geological Survey Earthquakes Visual Glossary . 

The Ring of Fire is a direct result of plate tectonics and the movement and collisions of crustal plates.

 Volcanoes 
 Avachinsky-Koryaksky in RussiaUnited States Geologic Survey (USGS), "Decade Volcanoes" . Retrieved 2012-6-15.
 Barren Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India
 Bogoslof island in Alaska
 Chimborazo in Ecuador
 Cotopaxi in Ecuador
 Galeras in Colombia
 Glacier Peak in the US (Washington) 
 Irazu in Costa RicaCosta Rica National Parks, "Irazu Volcano National Park" . Retrieved 2012-6-15.
 Kelut in IndonesiaUSGS,  "Deadliest Volcanic Eruptions Since 1500 A.D.". Retrieved 2012-6-15. 
 Kilauea in the US (Hawaii)
 Krakatoa in Indonesia
 Lō'ihi Seamount in the US (Hawai'i)Malahoff, Alexander.  "Loihi Submarine Volcano: A unique, natural extremophile laboratory,"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), December 18, 2000. Retrieved 2012-6-15. 
 Mount Adams in US (Washington)
 Mount Baker in the US (Washington)USGS, "Mount Baker—Living with an Active Volcano,"May 25, 2005. Retrieved 2012-6-15. 
 Mount Fuji in JapanGeological Survey of Japan,  "Active Volcanoes in Japan". Retrieved 2012-6-14.
 Mount Hood in the US (Oregon)USGS, "Mount Hood—History and Hazards of Oregon's Most Recently Active Volcano," May 27, 2010. Retrieved 2012-6-15.
 Mount Lassen in the US (California)
 Mount Mayon in Albay in the Philippines
 Mount Merapi in Indonesia"Villagers flee biggest Mt Merapi eruption yet," The Guardian (UK). June 8, 2006. Retrieved 2012-6-15.
 Mount Olympus in US (Washington)
 Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines
 Mount Rainier (Tahoma) in the US (Washington)US National Park Service (NPS), "Mount Rainier". Retrieved 2012-6-15.
 Mount Slamet in Central Java, Indonesia
 Mount St Helens in US Washington
 Mauna Kea in US (Hawaii)
 Mauna Hualalai in US (Hawaii)
 Mauna Loa in the US (Hawaii)UNESCO, "Hawaii Volcanoes National Park". Retrieved 2012-6-14.
 Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia
 Pacaya in Guatemala
 Parícutin in Mexico
 Popocatepetl in Mexico
 Redoubt in US (Alaska)
 Sakurajima in JapanGlobal Volcanism Program (GVP),  "Sakura-jima" . Retrieved 2012-6-15.
 Sinabung in Indonesia
 Taal in the PhilippinesMcGuire, Bill.  "In the shadow of the volcano," The Guardian,15 October 2003. Retrieved 2012-6-15.
 Tambora in Indonesia
 Ulawun in Papua New Guinea
 Mount Unzen in Japan

 References 

Category:Pacific Ocean
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