The distribution of volcanoes and earthquakes is not random. Volcanoes and earthquakes occur:

• in narrow bands that coincide with plate margins
• on both land and sea
• at volcanic hot spots

Most of the Earth’s volcanoes and earthquakes occur around the edge of the Pacific Ocean and form the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Earthquakes occur along conservative, constructive and destructive plate margins.

Volcanoes occur along constructive and destructive plate margins.