Ring of Fire

The Ring of Fire is a large area of earthquakes and volcanoes that surrounds most of the Pacific Ocean. It is about 40,000 kilometers long and up to 500 kilometers wide. This area includes between 750 and 915 active or dormant volcanoes, which is around two-thirds of all the volcanoes in the world.

About 90% of the world's earthquakes, including many of the largest ones, happen in the Ring of Fire. It was formed by the movement and sinking of different tectonic plates at places where they come together around the Pacific Ocean. These plates include the Antarctic, Nazca, Cocos, Pacific, Juan de Fuca, Philippine, Eurasian, and Australian plate.

Many of the world's active volcanoes with peaks above sea level are found in the Ring of Fire. These volcanoes are often tall and conical, formed by many years of eruptions. Some famous examples include Mount St. Helens. The Ring of Fire has been active for more than 35 million years, and many of its volcanoes have erupted during historical times.

History

People long ago thought volcanoes were caused by fires burning inside the Earth. This idea is why the Ring of Fire is called that, even though volcanoes do not actually burn the Earth with fire.

Scientists in the early 1800s began to notice many volcanoes around the edges of the Pacific Ocean. Books and articles from that time talked about these volcanoes forming a circle around the Pacific. In 1912, a scientist named Patrick Marshall introduced a term called the "Andesite Line" to describe a special boundary in the southwest Pacific. Later, the idea of plate tectonics helped us understand why volcanoes and earthquakes happen in the Ring of Fire.

Geographic boundaries

Most geologists agree on the areas included in the Ring of Fire, but there are a few places where they don't all agree. For example, some think all of Indonesia is part of the Ring of Fire, while others think only part of it is. Some also include parts of Antarctica in the Ring of Fire, but not all geologists agree on this.

The Ring of Fire does not include areas in the southern Pacific Ocean, like from New Zealand to Antarctica or to the southern tip of South America, because the underwater plates there move apart instead of crashing into each other. Even though there are some volcanoes in these areas, they are not part of the Ring of Fire.

Some geologists include islands like the Izu Islands, Bonin Islands, and Mariana Islands, while others do not.

Land areas

• Antarctica
  • Antarctic Peninsula
  • South Sandwich Islands
• Andes
  • Austral Volcanic Zone
  • South Volcanic Zone
  • Central Volcanic Zone
  • North Volcanic Zone
• Central America Volcanic Arc
  • Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt
• North American Cordillera
  • Cascade Volcanic Arc
  • Aleutian Range
    • Aleutian Islands
    • Aleutian Arc
• Kamchatka Peninsula
• Kuril Islands
• Japan
• Ryukyu Islands
• Taiwan
• Philippine Mobile Belt
• Izu–Bonin–Mariana Arc
  • Izu Islands
  • Bonin Islands
  • Mariana Islands
• Tanimbar and Kai Islands
• Bismarck Archipelago
• Vanuatu
• Bougainville Island
• Solomon Islands
• Fiji
• Tonga Islands
• Kermadec Islands
• Taupō Volcanic Zone

Volcanoes in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, like in the Hawaiian Islands, are not part of the Ring of Fire because they are far from where the Earth's plates crash together.

Tectonic plate configurations

The Ring of Fire has been around for more than 35 million years. In some areas, the movement of Earth's plates has been happening even longer.

Today, the Ring of Fire looks the way it does because of how Earth's plates are moving under each other. Long ago, around 115 million years ago, this started in South America, North America, and Asia. Over time, new areas like Indonesia, New Guinea, and New Zealand joined in.

In the past, different plates moved under others in various places. For example, along east Asia, one ancient plate was moving under another about 210 million years ago, creating volcanoes in what is now eastern China.

The Pacific plate began forming about 190 million years ago, far from the edge of the old ocean. As it grew, other plates moved under it along the edges of the ocean. South America has had plates moving under it since the Jurassic Period, over 145 million years ago.

Today, the eastern part of the Ring of Fire comes from a few big plates crashing together. The western part is more complicated, with many plates of different sizes moving against each other. In South America, several plates are moving under the South American plate. In Central America, one plate moves under the Caribbean plate. Portions of the Pacific plate and a small plate called the Juan de Fuca plate move under the North American plate. Farther north, the Pacific plate moves under the Aleutian Islands. Even farther west, it moves under the Kamchatka Peninsula and Kuril arcs. In Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines, another plate moves under the Eurasian plate. The southwest part of the Ring of Fire is very complex, with many small plates moving against the Pacific plate near the Mariana Islands, Philippines, eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and New Zealand. Australia is not part of this area because it sits in the middle of its own plate, far from where plates are moving under each other.

Subduction zones and oceanic trenches

When one piece of Earth's crust moves under another, it can create a chain of volcanoes. In the Ring of Fire, this happens in places like the Mariana Islands in the western Pacific. If the moving crust goes under a continent, like in Chile, it can create volcanoes along the coast.

Deep valleys in the ocean floor, called trenches, form where these pieces of crust move under each other. Some of these trenches in the Ring of Fire include the Peru–Chile Trench, Middle America Trench, Aleutian Trench, Kuril–Kamchatka Trench, Japan Trench, Ryukyu Trench, Izu–Bonin Trench, Mariana Trench, Yap Trench, Philippine Trench, Sunda Trench, Tonga Trench, Kermadec Trench, and Hikurangi Trough.

Sometimes, there are places where these moving pieces of crust do not meet, creating gaps in the chain of volcanoes. These gaps can be found along parts of the Pacific coast of the Americas. In some areas, like northern Mexico and southern California, these gaps happen because of different ways the Earth's crust moves, such as along the San Andreas Fault.

Distribution of volcanoes

Very large events

Volcanic eruptions

Four of the biggest volcanic eruptions on Earth in the last 11,700 years happened at volcanoes in the Ring of Fire. These eruptions occurred at Fisher Caldera in Alaska around 8700 BC, Kurile Lake in Kamchatka around 6450 BC, Kikai Caldera in Japan around 5480 BC, and Mount Mazama in Oregon around 5677 BC. In fact, twenty out of the twenty-five largest volcanic eruptions on Earth during this time took place at Ring of Fire volcanoes.

Earthquakes

About 90% of the world's earthquakes, including most of the largest ones, happen along the Ring of Fire. From 1900 to 2020, many of the biggest earthquakes—with a magnitude of 8.0 or more—occurred here. These powerful earthquakes happened at places where tectonic plates dive under others, and included some of the strongest ever recorded, such as the 1960 Valdivia earthquake in Chile, the 1964 Alaska earthquake in the United States, the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and the 1952 Severo-Kurilsk earthquake in Kamchatka, Russia.

Antarctica

See also: List of volcanoes in Antarctica

Some scientists think the volcanoes near the South Shetland Islands, close to Antarctica, might be part of the Ring of Fire. These volcanoes, like Deception Island, are caused by the earth splitting apart near the South Shetland subduction zone. The Antarctic Peninsula is sometimes also thought to be part of the Ring. However, volcanoes farther south, like those in Victoria Land including Mount Erebus, and in Mary Byrd Land, are not connected to this underground movement, so they are not part of the Ring of Fire.

The Balleny Islands, between Antarctica and New Zealand, have volcanoes too, but these are not linked to the same earth movements, so they are also not part of the Ring of Fire.

South America

See also: Andean Volcanic Belt

The world's highest active volcano is Ojos del Salado, which is in the Andes Mountains. It is part of the border between Argentina and Chile and last erupted in AD 750. Another volcano in the Andes is Llullaillaco, which is the world's highest historically active volcano, last erupting in 1877.

Chile

See also: List of volcanoes in Chile, Volcanism of Chile, and List of earthquakes in Chile

Chile has many volcanic eruptions from about 90 volcanoes. Villarrica is one of Chile's most active volcanoes. It is one of only five volcanoes worldwide known to have an active lava lake within its crater. The Llaima Volcano is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Chile. Lascar is a very active volcano in northern Chile. Calbuco is a very explosive volcano in southern Chile that has erupted many times since 1837.

Lascar had a large eruption in 1993. Chiliques showed new volcanic activity in 2002. Calbuco had major eruptions in 1893–1894, 1917, 1929, and 1961. Lonquimay last erupted in 1988.

Argentina

See also: List of volcanoes in Argentina and List of earthquakes in Argentina

Bolivia

See also: List of volcanoes in Bolivia

Bolivia has many active and extinct volcanoes. The active ones are in western Bolivia.

Peru

See also: List of volcanoes in Peru and List of earthquakes in Peru

Sabancaya is an active volcano in southern Peru, with an ongoing eruption that started in 2016. Ubinas is another active volcano in southern Peru; its most recent eruption occurred in 2019.

Ecuador

See also: List of volcanoes in Ecuador and List of earthquakes in Ecuador

Cotopaxi is a very tall volcano near Quito, Ecuador. It has erupted over 50 times since 1738. Sangay Volcano is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world and has been very active. Reventador has erupted over 25 times since 1541.

Colombia

See also: List of volcanoes in Colombia and List of earthquakes in Colombia

North America

Central America

Poás Volcano is an active volcano in central Costa Rica, standing 2,708 metres tall. It has erupted 39 times since 1828. Scientists at the National University of Costa Rica closely watch the volcanoes and earthquakes in the area.

In 1902, Santa Maria Volcano in Guatemala erupted very powerfully. This was one of the biggest eruptions of the 20th century.

North American Cordillera

Mexico

Popocatépetl is one of Mexico’s most active volcanoes, with many eruptions since the 1500s.

United States

The Cascade Volcanic Arc in the western United States has nearly 20 major volcanoes. The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens was one of the most important eruptions in U.S. history.

Alaska has many volcanoes and experienced a very big earthquake in 1964.

Canada

British Columbia and Yukon have many volcanoes, though none are erupting now. The Garibaldi Volcanic Belt includes some of Canada’s most explosive young volcanoes.

See also: List of volcanoes in Costa Rica and List of earthquakes in Costa Rica

Poás Volcano is an active 2,708-metre (8,885 ft) stratovolcano located in central Costa Rica; it has erupted 39 times since 1828.

The Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI, Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica) at the National University of Costa Rica has a dedicated team in charge of researching and monitoring the volcanoes, earthquakes, and other tectonic processes in the Central America Volcanic Arc.

Nicaragua

See also: List of volcanoes in Nicaragua and List of earthquakes in Nicaragua

Honduras

See also: List of volcanoes in Honduras

El Salvador

See also: List of volcanoes in El Salvador and List of earthquakes in El Salvador

Guatemala

See also: List of volcanoes in Guatemala and List of earthquakes in Guatemala

In 1902, the Santa Maria Volcano erupted violently in Guatemala, with the largest explosions occurring over two days, ejecting an estimated 5.5 km³ (1+3⁄8 cu mi) of magma. The eruption was one of the largest of the 20th century, only slightly less in magnitude to that of Mount Pinatubo in 1991. The eruption had a volcanic explosivity index of 6. Today, Santiaguito is one of the world's most active volcanoes.^{[citation needed]}

Mexico

See also: List of volcanoes in Mexico and List of earthquakes in Mexico

Volcanoes of Mexico related to subduction of the Cocos and Rivera plates occur in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, which extends 900 km (560 mi) from west to east across central-southern Mexico. Popocatépetl, lying in the eastern half of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, is the second-highest peak in Mexico after the Pico de Orizaba. It is one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico, having had more than 20 major eruptions since the arrival of the Spanish in 1519. The 1982 eruption of El Chichón, which created a 1-km-wide caldera that filled with an acidic crater lake. Before 1982, this relatively unknown volcano was heavily forested and of no greater height than adjacent nonvolcanic peaks.

United States

See also: List of volcanoes in the United States and List of earthquakes in the United States

The Cascade Volcanic Arc lies in the western United States. This arc includes nearly 20 major volcanoes, among a total of over 4,000 separate volcanic vents including numerous stratovolcanoes, shield volcanoes, lava domes, and cinder cones, along with a few isolated examples of rarer volcanic forms such as tuyas. Volcanism in the arc began about 37 million years ago, but most of the present-day Cascade volcanoes are less than 2 million years old, and the highest peaks are less than 100,000 years old. The arc is formed by the subduction of the Gorda and Juan de Fuca plates at the Cascadia subduction zone. This is a 1,090-kilometre-long (680 mi) fault, running 80 km (50 mi) off the coast of the Pacific Northwest from northern California to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The plates move at a relative rate of over 10 mm (0.4 in) per year at an oblique angle to the subduction zone.

Because of the very large fault area, the Cascadia subduction zone can produce very large earthquakes, magnitude 9.0 or greater.

Unlike most subduction zones worldwide, no oceanic trench is present along the continental margin in Cascadia. Instead, terranes and the accretionary wedge have been lifted up to form a series of coast ranges and exotic mountains. A high rate of sedimentation from the outflow of the three major rivers (Fraser River, Columbia River, and Klamath River) which cross the Cascade Range contributes to further obscuring the presence of a trench. However, in common with most other subduction zones, the outer margin is slowly being compressed, similar to a giant spring. When the stored energy is suddenly released by slippage across the fault at irregular intervals, the Cascadia subduction zone can create very large earthquakes such as the Cascadia earthquake of 1700. Geological evidence indicates that great earthquakes may have occurred at least seven times in the last 3,500 years, suggesting a return time of 400 to 600 years. Also, evidence of accompanying tsunamis with every earthquake is seen, as the prime reason these earthquakes are known is through "scars" the tsunamis left on the coast, and through Japanese records (tsunami waves can travel across the Pacific).

The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens was the most significant to occur in the contiguous 48 U.S. states in recorded history (VEI = 5, 1.3 km³ (0.3 cu mi) of material erupted). The eruption was preceded by a two-month series of earthquakes and steam-venting episodes caused by an injection of magma at shallow depth below the mountain that created a huge bulge and a fracture system on Mount St. Helens' north slope. An earthquake at 8:32 am on May 18, 1980, caused the entire weakened north face to slide away, suddenly exposing the partly molten, gas-rich rock in the volcano to lower pressure. The rock responded by exploding into a very hot mix of pulverized lava and older rock that sped toward Spirit Lake so fast that it quickly passed the avalanching north face.

Alaska is known for its seismic and volcanic activity, holding the record for the second-largest earthquake in the world, the Good Friday earthquake, and having more than 50 volcanoes which have erupted since about 1760. Volcanoes are found not only in the mainland, but also in the Aleutian Islands.

The United States Geological Survey and the National Earthquake Information Center monitor volcanoes and earthquakes in the United States.

Canada

See also: Volcanism in Canada, List of volcanoes in Canada, and List of earthquakes in Canada

British Columbia and Yukon are home to a region of volcanoes and volcanic activity in the Pacific Ring of Fire. More than 20 volcanoes have erupted in the western Canada during the Holocene Epoch but only 6 are directly related to subduction: Bridge River Cones, Mount Cayley, Mount Garibaldi, Garibaldi Lake, Silverthrone Caldera, and Mount Meager massif. Several mountains in populated areas of British Columbia are dormant volcanoes. Most of these were active during the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. Although none of Canada's volcanoes are currently erupting, several volcanoes, volcanic fields, and volcanic centers are considered potentially active. There are hot springs at some volcanoes. Since 1975, seismic activity appears to have been associated with some volcanoes in British Columbia including the six subduction-related volcanoes as well as intraplate volcanoes such as Wells Gray-Clearwater volcanic field. The volcanoes are grouped into five volcanic belts with different tectonic settings.

The Northern Cordilleran Volcanic Province is an area of numerous volcanoes, which are caused by continental rifting,not subduction; therefore geologists often regard it as a gap in the Pacific Ring of Fire between the Cascade Volcanic Arc further south and Alaska's Aleutian Arc further north.

The Garibaldi Volcanic Belt in southwestern British Columbia is the northern extension of the Cascade Volcanic Arc in the United States (which includes Mount Baker and Mount St. Helens) and contains the most explosive young volcanoes in Canada. It formed as a result of subduction of the Juan de Fuca plate (a remnant of the much larger Farallon plate) under the North American plate along the Cascadia subduction zone. The Garibaldi Volcanic Belt includes the Bridge River Cones, Mount Cayley, Mount Fee, Mount Garibaldi, Mount Price, Mount Meager massif, the Squamish Volcanic Field, and more smaller volcanoes. The eruption styles in the belt range from effusive to explosive, with compositions from basalt to rhyolite. Morphologically, centers include calderas, cinder cones, stratovolcanoes and small isolated lava masses. Due to repeated continental and alpine glaciations, many of the volcanic deposits in the belt reflect complex interactions between magma composition, topography, and changing ice configurations. The most recent major catastrophic eruption in the Garibaldi Volcanic Belt was an explosive eruption of the Mount Meager massif about 2,350 years ago. It was similar to the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, sending an ash column about 20 km into the stratosphere.

The Chilcotin Group is a north–south range of volcanoes in southern British Columbia running parallel to the Garibaldi Volcanic Belt. The majority of the eruptions in this belt happened either 6–10 million years ago (Miocene) or 2–3 million years ago (Pliocene), although with some slightly more recent eruptions (in the Pleistocene). It is thought to have formed as a result of back-arc extension behind the Cascadia subduction zone. Volcanoes in this belt include Mount Noel, the Clisbako Caldera Complex, Lightning Peak, Black Dome Mountain, and many lava flows.

Eruptions of basaltic to rhyolitic volcanoes and hypabyssal rocks of the Alert Bay Volcanic Belt in northern Vancouver Island are probably linked with the subducted margin flanked by the Explorer and Juan de Fuca plates at the Cascadia subduction zone. It appears to have been active during the Pliocene and Pleistocene. However, no Holocene eruptions are known, and volcanic activity in the belt has likely ceased.

The active Queen Charlotte Fault on the west coast of the Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, has generated three large earthquakes during the 20th century: a magnitude 7 event in 1929; a magnitude 8.1 in 1949 (Canada's largest recorded earthquake); and a magnitude 7.4 in 1970.

The Public Safety Geo-science Program at the Natural Resources Canada undertakes research to support risk reduction from the effects of space weather, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and landslides.

Asia

Russia

See also: Volcanoes of Kamchatka, Kamchatka earthquakes, List of volcanoes in Russia, and List of earthquakes in Russia

The Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East is one of the most active volcanic areas in the world, with 20 volcanoes that have been active in history. It lies between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Okhotsk Sea to the west. The ocean floor near the coast is very deep, and this helps create the volcanoes. Many types of volcanic activity happen here, including big cone-shaped volcanoes, shield-shaped volcanoes, and geysers.

Active, dormant and extinct volcanoes of Kamchatka are in two major volcanic belts. The most recent activity happens in the eastern belt, starting in the north at the Shiveluch volcanic complex. Just to the south is the Klyuchi volcanic group, with big volcanoes like Kliuchevskoi and Kamen. Other big volcanoes are Tolbachik and Ushkovsky. Ichinsky is the only active volcano in the central belt. Farther south, the eastern belt continues to the southern tip of Kamchatka and onto the Kuril Islands, which have 32 volcanoes that have been active in history.

Japan

See also: List of volcanoes in Japan and List of earthquakes in Japan

About 10% of the world's active volcanoes are found in Japan. The country lies in an area where the earth's crust moves a lot. Many earthquakes happen each year, and some can be strong. Small shakes happen almost every day, but big earthquakes are rare. Some of the biggest earthquakes in the past happened in Japan.

Mount Bandai is one of Japan's most famous volcanoes. It sits above a lake and has a big crater formed when an older volcano collapsed thousands of years ago. There have been several big eruptions in the past few thousand years. In 1888, part of the mountain collapsed during an eruption, causing damage to nearby villages.

Mount Fuji is Japan's highest and most famous volcano. It is very important in Japanese culture. The mountain has had many eruptions over thousands of years, with periods of lava flows and explosive eruptions. The last eruption was in 1707.

Taiwan

See also: List of volcanoes in Taiwan and List of earthquakes in Taiwan

Philippines

See also: List of volcanoes in the Philippines and List of earthquakes in the Philippines

The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo was one of the largest eruptions of the 20th century. Scientists predicted the eruption, and many people were moved to safety before it happened. However, the area was covered in ash and mud, which destroyed many homes.

Mayon Volcano is the Philippines' most active volcano. It has steep sides and a small crater on top. It has erupted many times since 1616, sometimes sending out lava and hot rocks that flow down the mountain.

Taal Volcano has erupted 33 times since 1572. A big eruption in 1911 caused many deaths. The volcano was quiet for many years but started showing signs of activity again in 1991 and erupted in January 2020.

Kanlaon Volcano has erupted 25 times since 1866. Most eruptions are small, but one in 1996 caught climbers by surprise and caused some deaths. The volcano erupted again in June 2024, forcing many people to leave their homes.

Indonesia

See also: List of volcanoes in Indonesia and List of earthquakes in Indonesia

Indonesia is located where the Ring of Fire around the Pacific Ocean meets another area of earth movements far away. The eastern islands of Indonesia are part of the Ring of Fire, while the western islands are sometimes considered part of a different area. Many of Indonesia's islands have famous volcanoes, including Krakatoa, Merapi, Tambora and Toba.

Islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean

Papua New Guinea

See also: List of volcanoes in Papua New Guinea and List of earthquakes in Papua New Guinea

Solomon Islands

See also: List of volcanoes in the Solomon Islands

Vanuatu

See also: List of volcanoes in Vanuatu and List of earthquakes in Vanuatu

Fiji

See also: List of volcanoes in Fiji and List of earthquakes in Fiji

Samoa

See also: List of volcanoes in Samoa and List of earthquakes in Samoa

Tonga

See also: List of volcanoes in Tonga and List of earthquakes in Tonga

New Zealand

See also: Volcanism in New Zealand, List of volcanoes in New Zealand, and List of earthquakes in New Zealand

New Zealand has many active and quiet volcanoes. The earliest known eruption happened in 1826 at Whakaari/White Island. Another big eruption was at Mount Tarawera in 1886.

Mount Ruapehu is one of New Zealand's most active volcanoes. It started erupting a very long time ago. Big eruptions happen about every 50 years, like in 1895, 1945, and 1995–1996. Smaller eruptions happen more often.

The Auckland volcanic field on the North Island has many different types of volcanoes. It is quiet now but might erupt again in the future. The most recent eruption was about 600 years ago at Rangitoto Island, which produced a lot of lava.

Soil

The soils in the Ring of Fire are called andosols or andisols. They form when volcanic ash weathers over time. These soils contain a lot of volcanic glass and are usually very fertile. The Ring of Fire is the main place in the world where you can find this type of soil.