The Ring of Fire, also referred to as the Circum-Pacific Belt, is a path along the Pacific Ocean characterized by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. Its length is approximately 40,000 kilometers (24,900 miles). It traces boundaries between several tectonic plates—including the Pacific, Juan de Fuca, Cocos, Indian-Australian, Nazca, North American, and Philippine Plates.

Seventy-five percent of Earth's volcanoes—more than 450 volcanoes—are located along the Ring of Fire. Ninety percent of Earth's earthquakes occur along its path, including the planet's most violent and dramatic seismic events.

The abundance of volcanoes and earthquakes along the Ring of Fire is caused by the amount of movement of tectonic plates in the area. Along much of the Ring of Fire, plates overlap at convergent boundaries called subduction zones. That is, the plate that is underneath is pushed down, or subducted, by the plate above. As rock is subducted, it melts and becomes magma. The abundance of magma so near to Earth's surface gives rise to conditions ripe for volcanic activity. A significant exception is the border between the Pacific and North American Plates. This stretch of the Ring of Fire is a transform boundary, where plates move sideways past one another. This type of boundary generates a large number of earthquakes as tension in Earth's crust builds up and is released.

Ring of Fire

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park on the island of Java (Jawa), Indonesia, is home to several active volcanoes, which can be seen here smoking ominously against a blue sky.

abundance

Noun

large amount.

active volcano

Noun

volcano that has had a recorded eruption since the last glacial period, about 10,000 years ago.

Noun

molten, or partially melted, rock beneath the Earth's surface.

seismic

Adjective

having to do with earthquakes.

subduction zone

Noun

area where one tectonic plate slides under another.

tectonic

Adjective

having to do with the structure of the Earth's crust.

transform boundary

Noun

site of tectonic plates sliding next to each other in opposite directions. Also called a transform fault.

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    Director

    Tyson Brown, National Geographic Society

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    National Geographic Society

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    Gina Borgia, National Geographic Society
    Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Society

    Program Specialists

    Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society
    Margot Willis, National Geographic Society

    Last Updated

    April 5, 2019

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