Where do volcanoes and earthquakes happen?

The map below shows the location of active volcanoes and major earthquakes.

The global distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes

The distribution of volcanoes and earthquakes is not random. Volcanoes and earthquakes occur in narrow bands that coincide with tectonic plate margins (compare the map above with the one below). Earthquakes and volcanoes occur both on land and in the sea. A large band of volcanoes and earthquakes happen around the edge of the Pacific Ocean, known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. A band of volcanoes and earthquakes extend from north to south along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Some earthquakes and volcanoes occur away from plate margins at volcanic hotspots, where the Earth’s crust is particularly thin. An example of this is Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean.

Earthquakes occur at all three types of plate margins: constructive, destructive and conservative. Volcanoes are found at constructive and destructive plate margins. An exception to this are hot spot volcanoes.

Look at the relationship between the map above showing where plates meet and the map below showing the most recent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.