Active volcanoes are primarily located along tectonic plate boundaries, particularly where plates are converging (subduction zones) or diverging (mid-ocean ridges). The Pacific Ring of Fire is one of the most prominent areas with a high concentration of active volcanoes, encircling the Pacific Ocean. Other notable regions include:
- The East African Rift
- The Mediterranean-Asian belt
- The Andes mountain range in South America
- The Icelandic hotspot along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
As for earthquakes, they commonly occur in regions where tectonic plates interact. The most earthquake-prone areas are also found along tectonic plate boundaries, particularly:
- Convergent boundaries, where plates collide (e.g., the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate).
- Transform boundaries, where plates slide past one another (e.g., the San Andreas Fault in California).
- Divergent boundaries, where plates are pulling apart (e.g., the Mid-Atlantic Ridge).
Earthquakes can also occur in intraplate areas, but these are generally less frequent and typically lower in magnitude.