CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html id="structuredContentTemplate_1-0" class="comp structuredContentTemplate article-html html mntl-html no-js taxlevel-3" data-ab="99,99,99,99,99,99,99,99,99,99,99,99,99,99,55,99,99,99,78" data-mm-ads-resource-version="1.2.197" data-reference-resource-version="4.41.0" data-mm-video-resource-version="1.4.34" data-mantle-resource-version="4.0.860" lang="en" data-tracking-container="true" data-resource-version="4.41.0" data-ddm-standard-tracking="true"> <head class="loc head"> <link rel="preconnect" href="//js-sec.indexww.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="//c.amazon-adsystem.com"> <link rel="preconnect" href="//securepubads.g.doubleclick.net"> <link rel="dnsprefetch" href="//www.google-analytics.com"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:large, NOODP, NOYDIR" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.thoughtco.com/ring-of-fire-1433460" /> <title>The Ring of Fire — Pacific Ocean</title> <meta name="description" content="The Ring of Fire is a fascinating horseshoe-shaped area filled with volcanoes. Find out where the Ring of Fire is located and how it was made." itemprop="description"> <meta name="emailcontenttype" content="STRUCTUREDCONTENT" /> <meta name="emailvertical" content="THOUGHTCO" /> <meta name="sailthru.author" content="Matt Rosenberg" /> <meta name="sailthru.tags" content="humanities,geography,physical-geography" /> <meta name="parsely-section" content="Humanities" /> <meta name="parsely-tags" content="ThoughtCo,Humanities,Geography,Physical Geography" />  <meta itemprop="name" content="Ring of Fire" /> <meta property="article:section" content="ThoughtCo" />  <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="ThoughtCo" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.thoughtco.com/ring-of-fire-1433460" /> <meta property="og:title" content="The Ring of Fire: Home to the Majority of the World's Active Volcanoes" /> <meta property="og:description" content="The Ring of Fire is a fascinating horseshoe-shaped area filled with volcanoes. Find out where the Ring of Fire is located and how it was made." /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/AGwj9T-fjRMETsj-7V-DsUEFzWk=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/RingofFire-58b9de735f9b58af5cbaa334.gif" /> <meta property="article:author" content="https://www.facebook.com/thoughtcodotcom/" />  <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@thoughtcocom" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="The Ring of Fire: Home to the Majority of the World's Active Volcanoes" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="The Ring of Fire is a fascinating horseshoe-shaped area filled with volcanoes. Find out where the Ring of Fire is located and how it was made." /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/AGwj9T-fjRMETsj-7V-DsUEFzWk=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/RingofFire-58b9de735f9b58af5cbaa334.gif" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" href="https://feeds-api.dotdashmeredith.com/v1/rss/google/e5bf8ae1-a904-434a-842c-3487c2b4e7c2"> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" data-glb-css="top" href="/static/4.41.0/cache/eNqtVl224yAI3tB4soh5nU0YJQlTfzJKOr27H6K2TVprcs-ZlwSQDxAB7SJJQtVZ6chAp2LsVgn86N4X0MoRxGykgskbDaGmZCGgRuk6dBpuD420JNG9QbydvQNHsbuw21v-PmGvywEGCOAUiL2i9XoxELeAINGIK2rwyXuiWvq9jCUBSkgdazGwuNsuvW_iL-oR-O884YCKtbwTvXQOQs4hFO6EjQlwnOjnJN0IvzASrEZqwlqoo_G9NKwudUJJXddz8opjCrOLF5yFQXd5UjXE4INl-6tjaUQEGdT0wh44ytEIlmzIA8ywGBNVAHAJt2cPsH1gLyosto9belec6255y5EaB5MaIGmPOBz4VN6RVJSC3dCfqsqkPPReBn2qRgcDN-wNcKW29Ddm8y4rburx_15sKYYH1chMqbbBe-Jqy79GVdb13s1ui9Mr5PpK6Vx79MEeFfUTV8E0Xebwcrk9yG9B16zFHXMOrj1pGSexOLxCiCX-qrRhUAaWl7Fc6Gr5FTUeraKhZoHHejcHboLwJXIr7LhzWzvqxc_bKH9RRtqebW2sAUQ3vvItS7OPVMyIUk298eryceHElC_qcZKh3KCsKbbSWkRV9BGoX4i8i8kLH50jkSWNKCOFRdESQIt1irGsTMH9kZ_PugWSO6bhvP_inoEcb6FbHu_q31CVC00-CPLeEM6tIiQKyNnCNX8bRiCBPXHKxUN3wtMupNy89SgbSb-fVeX48hPvVfx_jfZoTLpkRGTo5Uu0H00VgxNZkz6twKJfgoIopGMg0n3gvwtbHXTXEVnwyjdfmOtTTKzvzJSAJ9sCxT_LvdNLcrLkLOZQ2fHCNStnsjnReOrny_hBfXqiPJ_efqGet-kqosYpWxm948tifWTtmAZGpYcLf_4BF3_hOQ.min.css"></link> <style type="text/css"> </style> <script type="text/javascript" data-glb-js="top" src="/static/4.41.0/cache/eNqNk2FqwzAMhS804zsMxn4NxsgFFFtx1Th2kJSW9PRzQtemxQ2DONh-n6RnObGioOTsAEkjWpeHMSdMKjbCnCe1RymPcQd0_Zt9hI8LdJmFLliInDoKz8h1FamVR5ySIgs6pZxqeTN49BXB5dwTSkWZlCJpXeuS2ZN9HnZ1ZXA9pbALnTD5zFYPnLVsVYihTEzLCP2Yy_nvSYrG2CFjcvi6xuZunHC3vipVxqmVqb0L2U8R1-7_NO_LeCWtpyyTjxNuzW38w9xiLRr8FyqTk2ZJgVxjPr-bZdQkBQ6oS38FOowkWqPEGfBSUxiL4wmb6y3dkE3DSuRChlFrHYOA5kR43ul40GH9_CK53uhzpT8zmwCmcFDDQHG1eFv9P4bKD5VI0dy3TTFWzPIvW9ZmNg.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> window.Mntl = window.Mntl || {}; window.Mntl.csrf = window.Mntl.csrf || window.Mntl.csrfInit('24005190d3b1a6aa98792535374b5638', false);window.Mntl = window.Mntl || {}; Mntl.RTB = Mntl.RTB || {}; Mntl.RTB.setUseConsentManagement(false); Mntl.RTB.setIpAddress('8.222.208.146') Mntl.RTB.setUseLiveRamp(true); Mntl.RTB.setUseLiveIntentSignedInUser(true); Mntl.RTB.setUseGDPREnforcement(false); Mntl.RTB.setUseCommerceAndShoppingAPSTag(false); Mntl.RTB.setUseAmazonNcaHookTest(false); Mntl.RTB.setTaxonomyStampValues({"tax1":"tho_humanities","tax2":"tho_geography","tax0":"tho_root","tax3":"tho_physical-geography"}); Mntl.RTB.setPrebidBidResponseTimeout(800); Mntl.RTB.setPrebidUserIdAuctionDelay(500); Mntl.RTB.setRtbLibraryLoadTimeout(750); Mntl.RTB.setAmazonTamBidResponseTimeout(1000); Mntl.RTB.Plugins.amazon.amazonConfigs = {"mapTaxValues":{"tax1":"tho_humanities","tax2":"tho_geography","si_section":"tho_geography","tax0":"tho_root","tax3":"tho_physical-geography"},"amazonSlotName":false,"mapFBValues":{"billboard2":"287662961980198_287667961979698","billboard6":"287662961980198_287667961979698","adunitid":"mapFBID","billboard5":"287662961980198_287667961979698","billboard4":"287662961980198_287667961979698","billboard3":"287662961980198_287667961979698","leaderboard2":"287662961980198_287667635313064","billboard7":"287662961980198_287667961979698","video":"287662961980198_287667961979698","billboard":"287662961980198_287667961979698","leaderboardac":"287662961980198_287667961979698","leaderboard":"287662961980198_287668258646335","default":"287662961980198_287667961979698","leaderboardfooter2":"287662961980198_287667961979698","native":"287662961980198_287667961979698","leaderboardfooter":"287662961980198_287667635313064"},"amazonSection":"Physical Geography"}; Mntl.RTB.Plugins.prebid.setPriceGranularity({"buckets":[{"max":"20","increment":"0.05"},{"max":"70","increment":"1"}]}); Mntl.RTB.initVideoBidders([{ type: 'amazon', id: '3222' }, { type: 'prebid', id: 'true' } ]); Mntl.RTB.initDisplayAndOutstreamBidders([{ type: "amazon", id: '3222'},{ type: "msg", id: 'true'},{ type: "prebid", id: 'true'},{ type: "liveConnect", id: 'b-01jb'}]); Mntl.RTB.Plugins.prebid.setConfig({"square-fixed\/tier1":[{"bidder":"ttd","params":{"supplySourceId":"dotdash","publisherId":"1","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"zoneId":2442664,"type":"display","accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"placementId":25482890,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"adSlot":"4515221","type":"display","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"inventoryCode":"ThoughtCo_square-fixed_300x250_pbc2s","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"unit":"561324010","type":"display","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"siteId":"830375","type":"display"}}],"leaderboard-fixed\/tier1":[{"bidder":"ttd","params":{"supplySourceId":"dotdash","publisherId":"1","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"zoneId":2442654,"type":"display","accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"placementId":25482885,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"adSlot":"4515375","type":"display","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"inventoryCode":"ThoughtCo_leaderboard-fixed_728x90_pbc2s","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"unit":"561324000","type":"display","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"siteId":"830371","type":"display"}}],"square-fixed-replies\/tier1":[{"bidder":"ttd","params":{"supplySourceId":"dotdash","publisherId":"1","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"zoneId":3601290,"type":"display","accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"placementId":34330401,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"adSlot":"6389437","type":"display","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"inventoryCode":"thoughtco_square-fixed-replies_300x250_pbc2s","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"unit":"561381983","type":"display","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"siteId":"1146794","type":"display"}}],"preroll":[{"bidder":"ttd","params":{"type":"instream","supplySourceId":"dotdash","publisherId":"1"}},{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"type":"instream","zoneId":2442674,"accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"type":"instream","placementId":25482895}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"type":"instream","adSlot":"4515226","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"type":"instream","inventoryCode":"ThoughtCo_preroll_pbc2s"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"type":"instream","unit":"561365587","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"type":"instream","siteId":"830386"}}],"square-flex\/tier1":[{"bidder":"ttd","params":{"supplySourceId":"dotdash","publisherId":"1","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"zoneId":2442672,"type":"display","accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"placementId":25482894,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"adSlot":"4515225","type":"display","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"inventoryCode":"ThoughtCo_square-flex_300x600_pbc2s","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"unit":"561324012","type":"display","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"siteId":"830381","type":"display"}}],"square-fixed-comments\/tier1":[{"bidder":"ttd","params":{"supplySourceId":"dotdash","publisherId":"1","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"zoneId":3546588,"type":"display","accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"placementId":34080851,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"adSlot":"6234514","type":"display","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"inventoryCode":"thoughtco_square-fixed-comments_300x250_pbc2s","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"unit":"561324013","type":"display","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"siteId":"1137158","type":"display"}}],"global":[{"bidder":"ttd","params":{"supplySourceId":"dotdash","publisherId":"1","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"accountId":7499,"siteId":426884,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"publisherId":"158139","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net","type":"display"}}],"leaderboardac\/tier1":[{"bidder":"ttd","params":{"supplySourceId":"dotdash","publisherId":"1","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"zoneId":2442662,"type":"display","accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"placementId":25482889,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"adSlot":"6405120","type":"display","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"inventoryCode":"ThoughtCo_leaderboardac_728x90_pbc2s","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"unit":"561324006","type":"display","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"siteId":"830377","type":"display"}}],"leaderboardfooter-flex\/tier1":[{"bidder":"ttd","params":{"supplySourceId":"dotdash","publisherId":"1","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"zoneId":2442654,"type":"display","accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"placementId":25482885,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"adSlot":"4632121","type":"display","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"inventoryCode":"ThoughtCo_leaderboardfooter-flex_970x250_pbc2s","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"unit":"561324008","type":"display","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"siteId":"830371","type":"display"}}],"leaderboard-flex\/tier1":[{"bidder":"ttd","params":{"supplySourceId":"dotdash","publisherId":"1","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"zoneId":2442662,"type":"display","accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"placementId":25482889,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"adSlot":"4515220","type":"display","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"inventoryCode":"ThoughtCo_leaderboard-flex_970x250_pbc2s","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"unit":"561324003","type":"display","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"siteId":"830377","type":"display"}}]}); Mntl.RTB.Plugins.prebid.setSrc('/cache/eNqllsGS0zAMhl-ITod9gwLdnc7QYdkW7o6tZLV1JI8stw1Pj1oYhgOHKJwSZ_TZvy35V9ZVg2Jcj5xahrruGqXb862ui0CHyV4SVv09WkUWeLeeC4mm_T1mPhJy5ssmKp5REaoD1LqhkCcLrpsUioLMhyNTBdJ9oDDAaG_H2DtoQQXepcNUFcb5XIKuDQPS4ED6skkHkDPId0zA80kM9UXTs_DZOMfRWDQp6vQZ6eTfYsYz7EhtCj9bQijoDH9keSrqgVAWKLuPfqXhAyZ3uRXBCI-ZWRwFXl-DQPKL1dh_ZFLhPJ9pmB78KzXCHpdIbBUsC467XgrBtdUlZ4_XRRlr3XiLXMJK69AMZgmqmhZhgiVDxl6X0FyAFh1SfG10craIKGCBZ1gJkPkSyMo-lxwmh97uDaI-tSCeElreK8byH41lPjoU_aaYq6s5OImKP8CJmDW832LyEQ8-4u-u4TjrJlZEcXJu6ALhdFBX0bJoZ55q7u8zka5ur7arilYVjtuMI3DTrw2aQ2PiMSB9MY1iLfzIL8z66f5t_hwnmC4snszdLcBv5M6UxaAwsExHCVSzMUx7m8r1J6U3tmcZn4OE0avg1rEOE0WvcCYyrzK9O-odP29N8r9X-hO5vUJst4l_Ag_Th1c.js'); Mntl.RTB.Plugins.prebid.setUserIdConfig({"liveIntentPublisherId":"79925"}); Mntl.RTB.AdConfigs = Mntl.RTB.AdConfigs || {}; Mntl.RTB.AdConfigs.rawConfig = {"slots":{"square-fixed-replies\/tier1":{"prebid":[{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"zoneId":3601290,"type":"display","accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"placementId":34330401,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"adSlot":"6389437","type":"display","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"inventoryCode":"thoughtco_square-fixed-replies_300x250_pbc2s","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"unit":"561381983","type":"display","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"siteId":"1146794","type":"display"}}]},"leaderboard-fixed\/tier1":{"prebid":[{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"zoneId":2442654,"type":"display","accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"placementId":25482885,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"adSlot":"4515375","type":"display","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"inventoryCode":"ThoughtCo_leaderboard-fixed_728x90_pbc2s","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"unit":"561324000","type":"display","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"siteId":"830371","type":"display"}}]},"square-fixed\/tier1":{"prebid":[{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"zoneId":2442664,"type":"display","accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"placementId":25482890,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"adSlot":"4515221","type":"display","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"inventoryCode":"ThoughtCo_square-fixed_300x250_pbc2s","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"unit":"561324010","type":"display","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"siteId":"830375","type":"display"}}]},"leaderboard-flex\/tier1":{"prebid":[{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"zoneId":2442662,"type":"display","accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"placementId":25482889,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"adSlot":"4515220","type":"display","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"inventoryCode":"ThoughtCo_leaderboard-flex_970x250_pbc2s","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"unit":"561324003","type":"display","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"siteId":"830377","type":"display"}}]},"preroll":{"prebid":[{"bidder":"ttd","params":{"type":"instream","supplySourceId":"dotdash","publisherId":"1"}},{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"type":"instream","zoneId":2442674,"accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"type":"instream","placementId":25482895}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"type":"instream","adSlot":"4515226","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"type":"instream","inventoryCode":"ThoughtCo_preroll_pbc2s"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"type":"instream","unit":"561365587","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"type":"instream","siteId":"830386"}}]},"square-flex\/tier1":{"prebid":[{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"zoneId":2442672,"type":"display","accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"placementId":25482894,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"adSlot":"4515225","type":"display","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"inventoryCode":"ThoughtCo_square-flex_300x600_pbc2s","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"unit":"561324012","type":"display","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"siteId":"830381","type":"display"}}]},"leaderboardfooter-flex\/tier1":{"prebid":[{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"zoneId":2442654,"type":"display","accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"placementId":25482885,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"adSlot":"4632121","type":"display","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"inventoryCode":"ThoughtCo_leaderboardfooter-flex_970x250_pbc2s","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"unit":"561324008","type":"display","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"siteId":"830371","type":"display"}}]},"square-fixed-comments\/tier1":{"prebid":[{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"zoneId":3546588,"type":"display","accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"placementId":34080851,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"adSlot":"6234514","type":"display","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"inventoryCode":"thoughtco_square-fixed-comments_300x250_pbc2s","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"unit":"561324013","type":"display","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"siteId":"1137158","type":"display"}}]},"leaderboardac\/tier1":{"prebid":[{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"zoneId":2442662,"type":"display","accountId":7499,"siteId":426884}},{"bidder":"appnexus","params":{"placementId":25482889,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"adSlot":"6405120","type":"display","publisherId":"158139"}},{"bidder":"triplelift","params":{"inventoryCode":"ThoughtCo_leaderboardac_728x90_pbc2s","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"unit":"561324006","type":"display","delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net"}},{"bidder":"ix","params":{"siteId":"830377","type":"display"}}]}},"default":{"prebid":[{"bidder":"ttd","params":{"supplySourceId":"dotdash","publisherId":"1","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"rubicon","params":{"accountId":7499,"siteId":426884,"type":"display"}},{"bidder":"pubmatic","params":{"publisherId":"158139","type":"display"}},{"bidder":"openx","params":{"delDomain":"meredith-d.openx.net","type":"display"}}],"prebidModules":["prebid-core.js","rtdModule.js","allowActivities.js","atsAnalyticsAdapter.js","consentManagementTcf.js","criteoIdSystem.js","debugging.js","dfpAdServerVideo.js","iasRtdProvider.js","identityLinkIdSystem.js","liveIntentIdSystem.js","paapi.js","paapiForGpt.js","pairIdSystem.js","prebidServerBidAdapter.js","priceFloors.js","sharedIdSystem.js","tcfControl.js","uid2IdSystem.js","unifiedIdSystem.js","userId.js","appnexusBidAdapter.js","ixBidAdapter.js","pubmaticBidAdapter.js","rubiconBidAdapter.js","ttdBidAdapter.js","tripleliftBidAdapter.js","openxBidAdapter.js"]},"ab":[]}; console.log('✅ Libra is loaded!'); (function(){ const mantleDependencies = { } ; const pageTargeting = { customSeries: '' ,abtest: 'lcid1' ,tax0: 'tho' ,rid: 'n5ea85272a49948509e22a34fa54f092f02' ,custom: '' ,sid: 'n5ea85272a49948509e22a34fa54f092f02' } ; const baseSlotTargeting = { gtemplate: 'article' ,leaid: '268' ,revenueGroup: '' ,docId: '1433460' ,viewtype: '' ,type: 'article' ,tax1: 'tho_humanities' ,tax2: 'tho_geography' ,t: '110' ,au: '268' ,tier: 'L' ,jny: '0' ,leuid: '151378030080892' ,sbj: '' ,id: '1433460' ,aid: '4ffcd8f51909052301809149' ,tax3: 'tho_physical-geography' ,jnyroot: '' } ; const adLazyOffset = {'mob-square-fixed-intro-1': 750}; pageTargeting.w = Mntl.utilities.getW(); const initialSlots = []; initialSlots.push({ config: { id: 'leaderboard-flex-1', sizes: [[728, 90], [970,90], [970, 250]], type: 'leaderboard', rtb: true, timedRefresh: 0, waitForThirdParty: false }, targeting: Mntl.fnUtilities.deepExtend({}, { pos: 'atf', priority: 1 }) }); initialSlots.push({ config: { id: 'square-flex-1', sizes: [[300, 250],[300, 600],[300, 1050],[160, 600]], type: 'square', rtb: true, timedRefresh: 0, waitForThirdParty: false }, targeting: Mntl.fnUtilities.deepExtend({}, { pos: 'atf', priority: 2 }) }); const testIds = Mntl.GPT.getTestIds(); pageTargeting.ab = testIds; pageTargeting.bts = testIds; Mntl.utilities.onLoad(function() { Mntl.utilities.loadExternalJS({ src: '//securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js', async: false }); }); const options = { domain: 'www.thoughtco.com', templateName: 'structuredcontent', isMobile: false, isTablet: false, isDesktop: true, dfpId: '3865', publisherProvidedId: '0b7b5735-51f9-4a2f-9094-4083d1a61270', singleRequest: false, useLmdFormat: true, useOxygen: true, prebidConfigApi: false, useInfiniteRightRail: true, loadAdsAboveViewport: false, waitForNextFramePaint: false, revenueGroupAllowList: '', lmdSiteCode: 'hlt', pageTargeting, baseSlotTargeting, adLazyOffset, geo: { isInEurope: false, isInUsa: false }, initialSlots, auctionFloors: {"billboard2":{"id":"1552493e0f0844c9aa10ef73ad78a9e4","floor":"5"},"other":{"id":"ade0de584a2a422f99e934cd54b87d52","floor":"50"},"billboard6":{"id":"d9f82edf28e44244a1bb7117f42ac476","floor":"5"},"billboard5":{"id":"b340b93231954f2689e7025e2c0b4d18","floor":"5"},"billboard4":{"id":"7ad9ab485fa5443fa94ccc9bdca0a54c","floor":"5"},"billboard3":{"id":"f3f09dd3fe0147ca8227ab5458eebddb","floor":"5"},"billboard9":{"id":"488a3fee6fac46538f5e3ae6e51fe20e","floor":"5"},"billboard8":{"id":"f026d0eec2024513afe5b28e3319ac0f","floor":"5"},"billboardfooter2":{"id":"311073fb68e74727993cb054fe4430ac","floor":"50"},"broadmatch":{"id":"1bf596551eb9405a8d491ce078883cd4","floor":"5"},"billboard7":{"id":"8c88c6ba9f90426e800eff9dd8d0da96","floor":"5"},"leaderboardac":{"id":"1d2472433a85494c9501b140d9a1ad07","floor":"5"},"leaderboard-fixed":{"id":"449b24392f4b4c3a8285e203a64b2e6b","floor":"50"},"billboardfooter":{"id":"bd907afd733c48f185f70915ac74154a","floor":"20"},"leaderboardfooter2":{"id":"b4e76d3c1cf74c1ca3f12ec305e5d477","floor":"20"},"leaderboard-flex-1":{"id":"6330c0d82bd34adda20418fdc163d9a1","floor":"5"},"leaderboard-flex-2":{"id":"69272dabe35b4230a13938af298f75ff","floor":"5"},"square-flex-2":{"id":"c13704bf38e94252aa37db34edaddc9d","floor":"5"},"square-flex-1":{"id":"6fc33fe17f4747dfb36dfebf395636da","floor":"5"},"adhesive":{"id":"64de72640b214667bb8b9619b8b6a19d","floor":"25"},"square-fixed-4":{"id":"d52b7b6757414cb6a7d9885ff4c77b5d","floor":"5"},"square-fixed-3":{"id":"b57dc2458de54ebfac6f1f50477c6b45","floor":"5"},"square-fixed-2":{"id":"37febc1e4b1d446eab0c4fc4c075b0fd","floor":"5"},"leaderboard-fixed-1":{"id":"18efe8595dde4c02997da03ea354f7c0","floor":"5"},"square-fixed-1":{"id":"f35a56c653844a519beacc6324430144","floor":"5"},"square-fixed-8":{"id":"4854e3a5e1df46d6bfd2d35901766c07","floor":"5"},"mob-square-fixed-8":{"id":"f5dd53128a5f45f79b6c0e10ef184775","floor":"20"},"mob-square-flex-1":{"id":"21369d2b78ed46adb737cd0a1807ac5c","floor":"5"},"square-fixed-7":{"id":"e6ab8ef52f3d4e8b8ac868affa8e50d3","floor":"5"},"mob-square-fixed-9":{"id":"bb244a8f3dcd4ce9a6dc10f703ec49b3","floor":"50"},"square-fixed-6":{"id":"2aac544603f648878aa881568d11cc09","floor":"5"},"leaderboardfooter-flex-2":{"id":"7c365e41079a42aaa31927e67c8da8e0","floor":"5"},"leaderboard-fixed-5":{"id":"06053e86f93941bda0b0f63ff74c4a36","floor":"20"},"square-fixed-5":{"id":"51cfda109b8746e9beef6c4e88481ac7","floor":"5"},"leaderboardfooter-flex-1":{"id":"0b11b76e67e74a2ebd92efb163f4194b","floor":"5"},"leaderboard-fixed-6":{"id":"814d9f6ea0a04d429c95152f1c83c42a","floor":"20"},"billboard":{"id":"c27504ff7166457ea12d0f4358d106ed","floor":"5"},"mob-square-fixed-1":{"id":"fd801e654fa44f5bbd341c9d9053cfdf","floor":"5"},"mob-square-fixed-2":{"id":"3e78f020556a47ba8c8fb5871b44e7f3","floor":"5"},"leaderboard":{"id":"08c6a6a889904e2781ba965da042d811","floor":"80"},"inline":{"id":"3d5b9b5843474c8c828a468e59265d37","floor":"5"},"square-fixed":{"id":"bab3683523e2411e99eb6ab43b2474af","floor":"5"},"leaderboardfooter":{"id":"0f753592739c47d1b45d66d7c441209b","floor":"20"},"dynamic-inline":{"id":"1fcee3f5892e4e1f8fd090836c51ed8e","floor":"50"},"square-fixed-9":{"id":"c85a0c059c444f8da27205fb620c12e5","floor":"5"},"mob-adhesive-banner-fixed":{"id":"1ae057445ee0474780904de1986d2af8","floor":"5"},"billboard11":{"id":"ae958d6ef4c24b51844f346b2417e7d7","floor":"5"},"primary":{"id":"ee7cd89f77d449f09425cff055e3b796","floor":"5"}}, utils: { generateSlotId: Ref.GPT.generateSlotId, buildGptUrl: Ref.GPT.buildGptUrl }, displayOnScroll: false, displayOnConsent: true, adsToCollapse: ['leaderboard*','square*'] }; if (Mntl.AdMetrics) { Mntl.AdMetrics.init("1433460", "n5ea85272a49948509e22a34fa54f092f02", initialSlots.map(slot => slot.config.id), Date.now()); } else { Mntl.AdMetrics = { pushMetrics: () => {} }; } Mntl.GPT.setMantleDependencies(mantleDependencies); Mntl.GPT.init(options); }());window.MMads = window.MMads || {}; MMads.auctionFloors = MMads.auctionFloors || {}; MMads.auctionFloors.floorConfig = {"billboard2":{"id":"1552493e0f0844c9aa10ef73ad78a9e4","floor":"5"},"other":{"id":"ade0de584a2a422f99e934cd54b87d52","floor":"50"},"billboard6":{"id":"d9f82edf28e44244a1bb7117f42ac476","floor":"5"},"billboard5":{"id":"b340b93231954f2689e7025e2c0b4d18","floor":"5"},"billboard4":{"id":"7ad9ab485fa5443fa94ccc9bdca0a54c","floor":"5"},"billboard3":{"id":"f3f09dd3fe0147ca8227ab5458eebddb","floor":"5"},"billboard9":{"id":"488a3fee6fac46538f5e3ae6e51fe20e","floor":"5"},"billboard8":{"id":"f026d0eec2024513afe5b28e3319ac0f","floor":"5"},"billboardfooter2":{"id":"311073fb68e74727993cb054fe4430ac","floor":"50"},"broadmatch":{"id":"1bf596551eb9405a8d491ce078883cd4","floor":"5"},"billboard7":{"id":"8c88c6ba9f90426e800eff9dd8d0da96","floor":"5"},"leaderboardac":{"id":"1d2472433a85494c9501b140d9a1ad07","floor":"5"},"leaderboard-fixed":{"id":"449b24392f4b4c3a8285e203a64b2e6b","floor":"50"},"billboardfooter":{"id":"bd907afd733c48f185f70915ac74154a","floor":"20"},"leaderboardfooter2":{"id":"b4e76d3c1cf74c1ca3f12ec305e5d477","floor":"20"},"leaderboard-flex-1":{"id":"6330c0d82bd34adda20418fdc163d9a1","floor":"5"},"leaderboard-flex-2":{"id":"69272dabe35b4230a13938af298f75ff","floor":"5"},"square-flex-2":{"id":"c13704bf38e94252aa37db34edaddc9d","floor":"5"},"square-flex-1":{"id":"6fc33fe17f4747dfb36dfebf395636da","floor":"5"},"adhesive":{"id":"64de72640b214667bb8b9619b8b6a19d","floor":"25"},"square-fixed-4":{"id":"d52b7b6757414cb6a7d9885ff4c77b5d","floor":"5"},"square-fixed-3":{"id":"b57dc2458de54ebfac6f1f50477c6b45","floor":"5"},"square-fixed-2":{"id":"37febc1e4b1d446eab0c4fc4c075b0fd","floor":"5"},"leaderboard-fixed-1":{"id":"18efe8595dde4c02997da03ea354f7c0","floor":"5"},"square-fixed-1":{"id":"f35a56c653844a519beacc6324430144","floor":"5"},"square-fixed-8":{"id":"4854e3a5e1df46d6bfd2d35901766c07","floor":"5"},"mob-square-fixed-8":{"id":"f5dd53128a5f45f79b6c0e10ef184775","floor":"20"},"mob-square-flex-1":{"id":"21369d2b78ed46adb737cd0a1807ac5c","floor":"5"},"square-fixed-7":{"id":"e6ab8ef52f3d4e8b8ac868affa8e50d3","floor":"5"},"mob-square-fixed-9":{"id":"bb244a8f3dcd4ce9a6dc10f703ec49b3","floor":"50"},"square-fixed-6":{"id":"2aac544603f648878aa881568d11cc09","floor":"5"},"leaderboardfooter-flex-2":{"id":"7c365e41079a42aaa31927e67c8da8e0","floor":"5"},"leaderboard-fixed-5":{"id":"06053e86f93941bda0b0f63ff74c4a36","floor":"20"},"square-fixed-5":{"id":"51cfda109b8746e9beef6c4e88481ac7","floor":"5"},"leaderboardfooter-flex-1":{"id":"0b11b76e67e74a2ebd92efb163f4194b","floor":"5"},"leaderboard-fixed-6":{"id":"814d9f6ea0a04d429c95152f1c83c42a","floor":"20"},"billboard":{"id":"c27504ff7166457ea12d0f4358d106ed","floor":"5"},"mob-square-fixed-1":{"id":"fd801e654fa44f5bbd341c9d9053cfdf","floor":"5"},"mob-square-fixed-2":{"id":"3e78f020556a47ba8c8fb5871b44e7f3","floor":"5"},"leaderboard":{"id":"08c6a6a889904e2781ba965da042d811","floor":"80"},"inline":{"id":"3d5b9b5843474c8c828a468e59265d37","floor":"5"},"square-fixed":{"id":"bab3683523e2411e99eb6ab43b2474af","floor":"5"},"leaderboardfooter":{"id":"0f753592739c47d1b45d66d7c441209b","floor":"20"},"dynamic-inline":{"id":"1fcee3f5892e4e1f8fd090836c51ed8e","floor":"50"},"square-fixed-9":{"id":"c85a0c059c444f8da27205fb620c12e5","floor":"5"},"mob-adhesive-banner-fixed":{"id":"1ae057445ee0474780904de1986d2af8","floor":"5"},"billboard11":{"id":"ae958d6ef4c24b51844f346b2417e7d7","floor":"5"},"primary":{"id":"ee7cd89f77d449f09425cff055e3b796","floor":"5"}}; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; // moved from gtm.ftl so we can initialize GTM only onLoad. From https://support.google.com/tagmanager/answer/6103696?hl=en Mntl.utilities.onLoad(function() { (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;defer=true;j.src='//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;j.type="text/javascript";f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f)})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-5P3SZGS'); }); window.dataLayer.push({ event: 'ab-proctor', 'abTests-proctor': { "99-0" : "useOxygen | useOxygen | use the Oxygenated ad unit format and slot names | 1" , "99-1" : "vanillaJSLazyAdRecipeSC | active | vanillaLazyAd.js enabled | 1" , "99-2" : "useFloorSearch | active | Use Floor Search | 1" , "99-3" : "continuousScrollMobSquareFlexOffset | active | Adds offset to mob-square-fixed-1 ad on CS articles | 1" , "99-4" : "recipescDesktopAdRefresh | active | active, right rail ads timed refresh active | 1" , "99-5" : "gamVideoUsePlcmt | active | Pass plcmt | 1" , "99-6" : "liveIntentConnectedIdTest | control | LiveIntent ConnectedID is enabled | 0" , "99-7" : "prebidConfigApi | active | Ad Config API is enabled | 1" , "99-8" : "prebidTotalTimeoutBudget | default | default | 1" , "99-9" : "useDynamicVideoSizes | active | active | 1" , "99-10" : "orion | active | Active | 1" , "99-11" : "rtbLibraryLoadTimeout | default | default | 1" , "99-12" : "prebidVideoUsePlcmt | active | Pass plcmt | 1" , "99-13" : "useLiveIntentSignedInUser | active | active | 1" , "55" : "relatedArticlesAlgorithm | useRecommendationService | Enables usage of proximity API | 1" , "99-15" : "removeAdTiers | active | active | 1" , "99-16" : "useLiveRamp | active | active | 1" , "99-17" : "amazonTamBidResponseTimeout | default | default | 1" , "78" : "fetchPriority | active | active | 1" } }); window.dataLayer.push({ envData: { environment: { environment: "k8s-prod", application: "reference", dataCenter: "us-west-1" }, server: { version: "4.41.0", title: "reference-launcher" }, client : { browserUA: navigator.userAgent, serverUA: "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 6.0; SLCC1; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; .NET CLR 3.0.04506; .NET CLR 3.5.21022; .NET CLR 1.0.3705; .NET CLR 1.1.4322)", deviceType: "pc", usStateCode: "" }, mantle: "4.0.860", commerce: "" } }); (function(fnUtils, CMP) { const deferLoadTime = 5000; const readyForThirdPartyTrackingEvent = new CustomEvent('readyForThirdPartyTracking', { bubbles: true }); const readyForThirdPartyTracking = fnUtils.once(function() { window.dataLayer.push({event: 'readyForThirdPartyTracking'}); window.dispatchEvent(readyForThirdPartyTrackingEvent); }); const readyForDeferredScriptsEvent = new CustomEvent('readyForDeferredScripts', { bubbles: true }); const readyForDeferredScripts = fnUtils.once(function() { window.dataLayer.push({event: 'readyForDeferredScripts'}); window.dispatchEvent(readyForDeferredScriptsEvent); }); const hasTargetingConsentHandler = function() { const hasConsent = CMP.hasTargetingConsent(); if (hasConsent) { readyForThirdPartyTracking(); } // Trigger the readyForDeferredScripts if consent is given // or if the user has closed the banner(AlertBox) which exists for EU // or if the user optin consent is not required, which applies for non gdpr locations if (hasConsent || CMP.isAlertBoxClosed() || !CMP.isOptInConsent()) { readyForDeferredScripts(); } return hasConsent; }; const purposeOneConsentHandler = async function() { const hasPurposeOneConsent = await CMP.hasPurposeOneConsent(); if (hasPurposeOneConsent) { readyForThirdPartyTracking(); } if (hasPurposeOneConsent || CMP.isAlertBoxClosed()) { readyForDeferredScripts(); } return hasPurposeOneConsent; }; const onRequiredDomEvent = fnUtils.once(function() { if (!CMP) { readyForThirdPartyTracking(); readyForDeferredScripts(); return; } const handler = CMP.supportsTCData() ? purposeOneConsentHandler : hasTargetingConsentHandler; if (!CMP.isLoading()) { handler(); } CMP.onConsentChange(handler); }); [ ['adRendered', onRequiredDomEvent], ['beforeunload', onRequiredDomEvent], ['load', function() { setTimeout(onRequiredDomEvent, deferLoadTime); }] ].forEach(function(event) { window.addEventListener(event[0], event[1], { once: true }); }); })(Mntl.fnUtilities || {}, Mntl.CMP);window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; (function() { var isContinuousScroll = document.querySelector('.mntl-continuous-scroll'); var pageViewDataAsJSON = {"country":"SG","description":"The Ring of Fire is a fascinating horseshoe-shaped area filled with volcanoes. Find out where the Ring of Fire is located and how it was made.","title":"The Ring of Fire — Pacific Ocean" || document.title || '',"viewType":"","authorId":"268","documentId":1433460,"contentGroup":"Other","revenueGroup":"","templateName":"STRUCTUREDCONTENT","authorNames":"Matt Rosenberg","templateId":"110","muid":"0b7b5735-51f9-4a2f-9094-4083d1a61270","lastEditingAuthorId":"268","lastEditingUserId":"151378030080892","primaryTaxonomyIds":"4122478|4133358|4133035|4133032","fullUrl":"https://www.thoughtco.com/ring-of-fire-1433460" + location.hash,"experienceType":"single page","entryType":"direct","excludeFromComscore":false,"internalSessionId":"n5ea85272a49948509e22a34fa54f092f02","internalRequestId":"n5ea85272a49948509e22a34fa54f092f02","hid":"","experienceTypeName":"","recircDocIdsFooter":"S-1435537|S-1434988|S-4164138|S-1435193|S-4157735|S-4164135|S-4070411|S-1435561|S-1435150|S-4165311|S-1435366|S-1434982|S-1435186|S-4588911|S-1435531|S-1435833","euTrafficFlag":false,"isGoogleBot":false,"mantleVersion":"4.0.860","commerceVersion":"","primaryTaxonomyNames":"ThoughtCo|Humanities|Geography|Physical Geography"}; var scrolledPageData = {}; var scrolledDocOrdinal; var scrolledPage; pageViewDataAsJSON.breakpointName = Ref.utilities.getW(); pageViewDataAsJSON.bounceExchangeId = 2473; if (isContinuousScroll) { pageViewDataAsJSON.experienceTypeName = 'continuous'; if (window.dataLayer && window.dataLayer.length) { //loop through events and collect previous scrolledDocOrdinal and scrolledPage values scrolledPageData = window.dataLayer.reduce( (acc, curr) => { if (curr.event == 'unifiedPageview') { acc.scrolledDocOrdinal = acc.scrolledDocOrdinal ? acc.scrolledDocOrdinal + 1 : 1; acc.scrolledPage = acc.scrolledPage ? acc.scrolledPage + " | " + (curr.documentId).toString() : (curr.documentId).toString(); } return acc; }, {}); } scrolledPage = scrolledPageData.scrolledPage ? scrolledPageData.scrolledPage + ' | ' + (pageViewDataAsJSON.documentId).toString() : (pageViewDataAsJSON.documentId).toString(); scrolledDocOrdinal = scrolledPageData.scrolledDocOrdinal ? scrolledPageData.scrolledDocOrdinal + 1 : 1; pageViewDataAsJSON.scrolledPage = scrolledPage; pageViewDataAsJSON.scrolledDocOrdinal = scrolledDocOrdinal; } Mntl.utilities.onLoad(function() { var isRecirc = false && document.querySelector('.mntl-recirc-section, .related-article-list, .masonry-list-section'); if (false && !isRecirc) { pageViewDataAsJSON.recircDocIdsFooter = ""; } Mntl.PageView.init(pageViewDataAsJSON); }); })();</script> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico"> <link rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" href="/favicon.ico"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="57x57" href="/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="60x60" href="/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="76x76" href="/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="120x120" href="/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="152x152" href="/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="180x180" href="/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png"> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#F4F4F4"/> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="/static/4.41.0/icons/favicons/mstile-144x144.png"> <meta name="msapplication-square70x70logo" content="/static/4.41.0/icons/favicons/mstile-70x70.png"> <meta name="msapplication-square150x150logo" content="/static/4.41.0/icons/favicons/mstile-150x150.png"> <meta name="msapplication-square310x310logo" content="/static/4.41.0/icons/favicons/mstile-310x310.png"> <meta name="msapplication-wide310x150logo" content="/static/4.41.0/icons/favicons/mstile-310x150.png"> <div id="ie-notification-banner_1-0" class="comp ie-notification-banner mntl-block"><div id="ie-notification-banner__content_1-0" class="comp ie-notification-banner__content mntl-block" data-tracking-container="true"><svg class="icon icon-alert ie-notification-banner__icon-alert" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-alert" href="#icon-alert"></use> </svg> <div id="ie-notification-banner__text-container_1-0" class="comp ie-notification-banner__text-container mntl-block"><span id="ie-notification-banner__text--bold_1-0" class="comp ie-notification-banner__text--bold mntl-text-block">Your web browser (Internet Explorer 7) is out of date. </span> <span id="ie-notification-banner__text_1-0" class="comp ie-notification-banner__text mntl-text-block">Update your browser for more security, speed, and the best experience on this site.</span></div> <a href="https://www.google.com/chrome" target="_blank" rel="noopener nocaes" id="ie-notification-banner__btn-update_1-0" class="ie-notification-banner__btn-update mntl-text-link ie-notification-banner__btn" data-tracking-container="true" ><span class="link__wrapper">Update Browser</span></a> <button id="ie-notification-banner__btn-close_1-0" class="comp ie-notification-banner__btn-close mntl-button ie-js-banner-dismiss ie-notification-banner__btn"> Ignore </button></div></div> <script id="schema-unified_1-0" class="comp schema-unified mntl-schema-unified" type="application/ld+json">[ { "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": ["Article"] ,"headline": "Ring of Fire" ,"datePublished": "2004-01-04T21:38:08.000-05:00" ,"dateModified": "2018-12-22T15:55:22.817-05:00" ,"author": [ {"@type": "Person" ,"name": "Matt Rosenberg" ,"url": "https://www.thoughtco.com/matt-rosenberg-1433401" } ] ,"description": "The Ring of Fire is a fascinating horseshoe-shaped area filled with volcanoes. Find out where the Ring of Fire is located and how it was made." ,"image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/AGwj9T-fjRMETsj-7V-DsUEFzWk=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/RingofFire-58b9de735f9b58af5cbaa334.gif", "height": 776, "width": 1046 } ,"publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "ThoughtCo", "url": "https://www.thoughtco.com", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/ruwsr0VaZ-mxBD_vXVdKmhL0sjY=/250x60/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TC_schema_logo_250x60-59af144bd088c00010d45b5f.png", "width": 250, "height": 60 }, "brand": "ThoughtCo" , "publishingPrinciples": "https://www.thoughtco.com/about-us-4779650#toc-editorial-guidelines" , "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/thoughtcodotcom", "https://www.flipboard.com/@thoughtco" ] } ,"mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": ["WebPage"] ,"@id": "https://www.thoughtco.com/ring-of-fire-1433460" ,"breadcrumb": { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@id": "https://www.thoughtco.com/humanities-4133358", "name": "Humanities" } } , { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@id": "https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-4133035", "name": "Geography" } } , { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@id": "https://www.thoughtco.com/physical-geography-4133032", "name": "Physical Geography" } } ] }} } ]</script> </head><body>  <svg class="mntl-svg-resource is-hidden"> <defs> <symbol id="icon-alert"> <svg width="30" height="29" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M13.2522 4.38081C14.077 2.92054 16.1389 2.92054 16.9637 4.38081L26.7065 21.6302C27.5313 23.0905 26.5003 24.9158 24.8507 24.9158H5.36517C3.7156 24.9158 2.68462 23.0905 3.5094 21.6302L13.2522 4.38081Z" fill="#fff"/><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M19.6063 2.76459L29.2795 20.1815C31.3267 23.8676 28.7677 28.4753 24.6732 28.4753H5.32681C1.23233 28.4753 -1.32671 23.8676 0.720529 20.1815L10.3937 2.76459C12.441 -0.921533 17.559 -0.921526 19.6063 2.76459ZM16.8425 4.42334C16.0236 2.94889 13.9764 2.94889 13.1575 4.42334L3.4843 21.8402C2.6654 23.3147 3.68902 25.1577 5.32681 25.1577H24.6732C26.311 25.1577 27.3346 23.3147 26.5157 21.8402L16.8425 4.42334Z" fill="#C00"/><path d="M13.8863 18.8426L12.8572 11.2V7.66641H17.1429V11.2L16.1279 18.8426H13.8863ZM13.0264 22.9992V20.1106H16.9878V22.9992H13.0264Z" fill="#222"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-menu"> <svg viewBox="0 0 21 25" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M2 21.5C2 20.6716 2.67157 20 3.5 20H17.5C18.3284 20 19 20.6716 19 21.5C19 22.3284 18.3284 23 17.5 23H3.5C2.67157 23 2 22.3284 2 21.5Z" fill="#DCD8A0"/><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M3.5 18H17.5C19.433 18 21 19.567 21 21.5C21 23.433 19.433 25 17.5 25H3.5C1.567 25 0 23.433 0 21.5C0 19.567 1.567 18 3.5 18ZM3.5 20C2.67157 20 2 20.6716 2 21.5C2 22.3284 2.67157 23 3.5 23H17.5C18.3284 23 19 22.3284 19 21.5C19 20.6716 18.3284 20 17.5 20H3.5Z" fill="#333"/><path d="M2 12.5C2 11.6716 2.67157 11 3.5 11H17.5C18.3284 11 19 11.6716 19 12.5C19 13.3284 18.3284 14 17.5 14H3.5C2.67157 14 2 13.3284 2 12.5Z" fill="#DCD8A0"/><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M3.5 9H17.5C19.433 9 21 10.567 21 12.5C21 14.433 19.433 16 17.5 16H3.5C1.567 16 0 14.433 0 12.5C0 10.567 1.567 9 3.5 9ZM3.5 11C2.67157 11 2 11.6716 2 12.5C2 13.3284 2.67157 14 3.5 14H17.5C18.3284 14 19 13.3284 19 12.5C19 11.6716 18.3284 11 17.5 11H3.5Z" fill="#333"/><path d="M2 3.5C2 2.67157 2.67157 2 3.5 2H17.5C18.3284 2 19 2.67157 19 3.5C19 4.32843 18.3284 5 17.5 5H3.5C2.67157 5 2 4.32843 2 3.5Z" fill="#DCD8A0"/><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M3.5 0H17.5C19.433 0 21 1.567 21 3.5C21 5.433 19.433 7 17.5 7H3.5C1.567 7 0 5.433 0 3.5C0 1.567 1.567 0 3.5 0ZM3.5 2C2.67157 2 2 2.67157 2 3.5C2 4.32843 2.67157 5 3.5 5H17.5C18.3284 5 19 4.32843 19 3.5C19 2.67157 18.3284 2 17.5 2H3.5Z" fill="#333"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-close"> <svg viewBox="0 0 21 21" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M2.43934 15.8744C1.85355 16.4602 1.85355 17.4099 2.43934 17.9957C3.02513 18.5815 3.97487 18.5815 4.56066 17.9957L10.2175 12.3388L15.8744 17.9957C16.4602 18.5815 17.4099 18.5815 17.9957 17.9957C18.5815 17.4099 18.5815 16.4602 17.9957 15.8744L12.3388 10.2175L17.9957 4.56066C18.5815 3.97487 18.5815 3.02513 17.9957 2.43934C17.4099 1.85355 16.4602 1.85355 15.8744 2.43934L10.2175 8.09619L4.56066 2.43934C3.97488 1.85355 3.02513 1.85355 2.43934 2.43934C1.85356 3.02513 1.85356 3.97487 2.43934 4.56066L8.0962 10.2175L2.43934 15.8744Z" fill="#DCD8A0"/><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M1.02513 14.4602L5.26777 10.2175L1.02513 5.97487C-0.341705 4.60804 -0.341705 2.39196 1.02513 1.02513C2.39196 -0.341708 4.60804 -0.341709 5.97488 1.02513L10.2175 5.26776L14.4602 1.02513C15.827 -0.341708 18.0431 -0.341708 19.4099 1.02513C20.7767 2.39196 20.7767 4.60804 19.4099 5.97487L15.1673 10.2175L19.4099 14.4602C20.7767 15.827 20.7767 18.0431 19.4099 19.4099C18.0431 20.7767 15.827 20.7767 14.4602 19.4099L10.2175 15.1673L5.97487 19.4099C4.60804 20.7767 2.39196 20.7767 1.02513 19.4099C-0.341709 18.0431 -0.341708 15.827 1.02513 14.4602ZM10.2175 12.3388L15.8744 17.9957C16.4602 18.5815 17.4099 18.5815 17.9957 17.9957C18.5815 17.4099 18.5815 16.4602 17.9957 15.8744L12.3388 10.2175L17.9957 4.56066C18.5815 3.97487 18.5815 3.02513 17.9957 2.43934C17.4099 1.85355 16.4602 1.85355 15.8744 2.43934L10.2175 8.09619L4.56066 2.43934C3.97488 1.85355 3.02513 1.85355 2.43934 2.43934C1.85356 3.02513 1.85356 3.97487 2.43934 4.56066L8.0962 10.2175L2.43934 15.8744C1.85355 16.4602 1.85355 17.4099 2.43934 17.9957C3.02513 18.5815 3.97487 18.5815 4.56066 17.9957L10.2175 12.3388Z" fill="#333"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-logo"> <svg version="1.1" class="logo-img" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" x="0" y="0" viewBox="-169.7 -50 913.8 182.2" xml:space="preserve"><g class="logo-thought"><path d="M506.9 63.3c-1.7.4-5 1-8.7 1-6.1 0-8.1-1-10.6-3.9-2.1-2.5-2.1-6.6-2.1-12.4V12.6H507v-21h-12.1v0h-9.3v-25.8l-24.9-.1v25.9l-12 0 0 20.9h12v32.7c0 13.2 2.4 21.2 6.9 27.7 6.8 9.8 17.2 13.4 32.1 13.4 3.8 0 9.3-.8 12.5-1.9L506.9 63.3zM-73.1-49.6v23h-35.4v111h-25.8v-111h-35.4v-23H-73.1zM-35.5 84.4h-24.9V-50h24.9v48.2c6.9-5.4 15.7-8.6 25.3-8.6 12.8 0 24.5 5.7 32.1 14.9 6.1 7.3 9.6 16.6 9.6 32.5v47.3H6.6V35.2c0-9.2-2.1-14-5.6-17.4-3.3-3.3-8.2-5.2-14-5.2-10.5 0-19.1 6.7-22.6 11.5V84.4zM88.6-10.3c28.1 0 49.4 21.6 49.4 48.4 0 26.8-21.2 48.2-49.4 48.2S39.2 64.9 39.2 38.1C39.2 11.3 60.4-10.3 88.6-10.3zM88.6 63.3c14.5 0 24.5-11.3 24.5-25.3s-9.9-25.4-24.5-25.4c-14.5 0-24.5 11.5-24.5 25.4S74 63.3 88.6 63.3zM235.1-8.4v92.8h-23.9v-7.5c-7.3 6.5-16.1 9.4-25.1 9.4-12.8 0-24.3-5.9-31.6-14.9-5.9-7.3-9.4-16.8-9.4-30.6V-8.4h24.9v50.1c0 8.4 1.7 12.6 4.6 15.9 3.8 4.2 9.2 5.7 14 5.7 10.5 0 18.2-7.1 21.6-11.5V-8.4H235.1zM340.3 79.2c0 16.6-2.9 26.6-8.4 34.4-8.4 11.7-23.3 18.6-41.1 18.6-18.2 0-35.4-8.4-44.6-19.1l15.7-16.3c5 5.4 13.6 13.4 28.9 13.4 8 0 14.7-2.5 18.9-7.5 3.8-4.2 5.7-9.9 5.7-21.8v-3.1c-7.5 5.7-15.5 8.4-24.9 8.4-13.8 0-27-6.1-35.2-15.7-7.3-8.4-11.7-19.9-11.7-32.5 0-27.4 20.3-48.4 45.5-48.4 10.5 0 19.9 3.4 27.2 9.4v-7.5h23.9V79.2zM315.4 24.1c-5.2-6.9-13.4-11.5-23-11.5-14.5 0-23.9 12.1-23.9 25.4 0 14.5 10.5 25.3 24.5 25.3 9.4 0 17.6-4.6 22.4-11.5V24.1zM378.3 84.4h-24.9V-50h24.9v48.2c6.9-5.4 15.7-8.6 25.3-8.6 12.8 0 24.5 5.7 32.1 14.9 6.1 7.3 9.6 16.6 9.6 32.5v47.3h-24.9V35.2c0-9.2-2.1-14-5.6-17.4-3.3-3.3-8.2-5.2-14-5.2-10.5 0-19.1 6.7-22.6 11.5V84.4z"/><g class="logo-co" fill="#BEAB72"><path d="M590 67c-25.8 0-45.7-19.9-45.7-45.9 0-25.4 19.1-45.9 44.6-45.9 13.2 0 24.5 5.7 32.5 13.8l16.6-17.6c-12.1-11.7-29.1-19.1-49-19.1-41.7 0-70.6 30.4-70.6 68.9s29.3 68.9 71 68.9c15 0 28.3-4 39.1-10.5-5-6.2-8.4-13.6-10-21.8C611.2 63.3 601.7 67 590 67zM742.2 67.5c-1.2-2.1-2.9-3.8-5.1-5-2.2-1.2-4.5-1.8-6.9-1.8-3.4 0-6.4 1.2-9 3.5-3 2.7-4.5 6.1-4.5 10.2 0 3.8 1.3 7 4 9.7 2.6 2.7 5.8 4 9.6 4 2.5 0 4.9-.6 7-1.8 2.1-1.2 3.8-2.9 5-5 1.2-2.1 1.8-4.4 1.8-6.9C744 71.8 743.4 69.6 742.2 67.5z"/><path d="M669.8,5.1c-24.7,0-43.3,19-43.3,42.5c0,1.2,0.1,2.4,0.2,3.6c0.7,9,4.2,17.1,9.7,23.6c7.8,9.3,19.7,15.1,33.5,15.1 c24.7,0,43.3-18.8,43.3-42.3C713.1,24.1,694.4,5.1,669.8,5.1z M670.3,70.4c-7.1,0-13.1-3-16.9-8c-3.2-3.9-5.1-9-5.1-14.7 c0-12.3,8.7-22.3,21.5-22.3c6.5,0,11.9,2.6,15.7,6.7c3.9,4,6.3,9.7,6.3,16.1C691.7,61,682.7,70.4,670.3,70.4z"/></g></g></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-search"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 29 34"><path d="M5.04807 30.5496C6.15292 31.1875 7.5657 30.8089 8.20358 29.7041L13.6111 20.338C14.249 19.2332 13.8704 17.8204 12.7656 17.1825L12.7179 17.155C11.6131 16.5171 10.2003 16.8957 9.56242 18.0005L4.15492 27.3666C3.51703 28.4714 3.89558 29.8842 5.00043 30.5221L5.04807 30.5496Z" fill="#DCD8A0" stroke="#333" stroke-width="2"/><path d="M9.88244 22.8385C5.33866 20.2151 3.78184 14.405 6.4052 9.86122C9.02855 5.31744 14.8387 3.76062 19.3824 6.38397C23.9262 9.00733 25.483 14.8174 22.8597 19.3612C20.2363 23.905 14.4262 25.4618 9.88244 22.8385Z" stroke="#333" stroke-width="2"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-caret-down"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 14 14"><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M7.77819 12.3744C7.1924 12.9602 6.24266 12.9602 5.65687 12.3744L1.44243e-05 6.71751L2.12133 4.59619L6.71753 9.19239L11.3137 4.59619L13.435 6.71751L7.77819 12.3744Z" fill="#DE2229"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-facebook"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 43.8 34"><path d="M22.4,30.1V18.9h3.7l0.6-4.4h-4.3v-2.8c0-1.3,0.3-2.1,2.2-2.1h2.3V5.8c-0.4-0.1-1.8-0.2-3.4-0.2c-3.3,0-5.6,2-5.6,5.7v3.2h-3.8v4.4h3.8v11.2L22.4,30.1L22.4,30.1z"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-flipboard"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="240.4 241 17.3 17.3"><path d="M252 241 246.2 241 240.4 241 240.4 246.7 240.4 252.5 240.4 258.3 246.2 258.3 246.2 252.6 251.9 252.6 251.9 246.8 257.7 246.8 257.7 241z"/><path d="M252 241 246.2 241 246.2 246.8 252 246.8 257.7 246.8 257.7 241zM246.2 246.8H252V252.60000000000002H246.2z"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-instagram"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" x="0" y="0" viewBox="0 0 43.8 34" xml:space="preserve"><path d="M21.8,8.5c2.9,0,3.2,0,4.4,0.1c1.1,0,1.6,0.2,2,0.4c0.5,0.2,0.9,0.4,1.2,0.8c0.4,0.4,0.6,0.7,0.8,1.2c0.1,0.4,0.3,1,0.4,2c0.1,1.1,0.1,1.5,0.1,4.4s0,3.2-0.1,4.4c0,1.1-0.2,1.6-0.4,2c-0.2,0.5-0.4,0.9-0.8,1.2c-0.4,0.4-0.7,0.6-1.2,0.8c-0.4,0.1-1,0.3-2,0.4c-1.1,0.1-1.5,0.1-4.4,0.1s-3.2,0-4.4-0.1c-1.1,0-1.6-0.2-2-0.4c-0.5-0.2-0.9-0.4-1.2-0.8c-0.4-0.4-0.6-0.7-0.8-1.2c-0.1-0.4-0.3-1-0.4-2c-0.1-1.1-0.1-1.5-0.1-4.4s0-3.2,0.1-4.4c0-1.1,0.2-1.6,0.4-2c0.2-0.5,0.4-0.9,0.8-1.2c0.4-0.4,0.7-0.6,1.2-0.8c0.4-0.1,1-0.3,2-0.4C18.6,8.5,18.9,8.5,21.8,8.5 M21.8,6.6c-2.9,0-3.3,0-4.5,0.1c-1.2,0.1-1.9,0.2-2.6,0.5c-0.7,0.3-1.3,0.6-1.9,1.2c-0.6,0.6-1,1.2-1.2,1.9c-0.3,0.7-0.4,1.5-0.5,2.6C11,14.1,11,14.4,11,17.4c0,2.9,0,3.3,0.1,4.5c0.1,1.2,0.2,1.9,0.5,2.6c0.3,0.7,0.6,1.3,1.2,1.9c0.6,0.6,1.2,1,1.9,1.2c0.7,0.3,1.5,0.4,2.6,0.5c1.2,0.1,1.5,0.1,4.5,0.1s3.3,0,4.5-0.1c1.2-0.1,1.9-0.2,2.6-0.5c0.7-0.3,1.3-0.6,1.9-1.2c0.6-0.6,1-1.2,1.2-1.9c0.3-0.7,0.4-1.5,0.5-2.6c0.1-1.2,0.1-1.5,0.1-4.5s0-3.3-0.1-4.5c-0.1-1.2-0.2-1.9-0.5-2.6c-0.3-0.7-0.6-1.3-1.2-1.9c-0.6-0.6-1.2-1-1.9-1.2c-0.7-0.3-1.5-0.4-2.6-0.5C25.1,6.6,24.7,6.6,21.8,6.6L21.8,6.6z"/><path d="M21.8,11.8c-3.1,0-5.5,2.5-5.5,5.5s2.5,5.5,5.5,5.5s5.5-2.5,5.5-5.5S24.9,11.8,21.8,11.8zM21.8,21c-2,0-3.6-1.6-3.6-3.6s1.6-3.6,3.6-3.6s3.6,1.6,3.6,3.6S23.8,21,21.8,21z"/><circle cx="27.6" cy="11.6" r="1.3"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-linkedin"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 41.8 41.8"><path d="M12.2 18.2h3.9v12.7h-3.9V18.2zm1.9-6.3c1.3 0 2.3 1 2.3 2.3s-1 2.3-2.3 2.3-2.3-1-2.3-2.3c0-1.3 1.1-2.3 2.3-2.3M18.6 18.2h3.8v1.7h.1c.8-1.3 2.2-2.1 3.7-2 4 0 4.7 2.6 4.7 6v7H27v-6.2c0-1.5 0-3.4-2-3.4s-2.3 1.6-2.3 3.2v6.3h-3.9l-.2-12.6z"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-pinterest"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="-1217.8 0 640 480"><path d="M-888.5,96c-77.6,0-120,52.2-120,108.7c0,26.8,14.1,59.3,36.7,70.6c2.8,1.4,5.6,1.4,5.6-2.8c0-2.8,4.2-14.1,5.6-21.2c0-1.4,0-2.8-1.4-5.6c-7.1-8.5-14.1-25.4-14.1-40.9c0-39.5,29.6-79.1,81.9-79.1c43.8,0,74.8,29.6,74.8,73.4c0,49.4-24,83.3-56.5,83.3c-18.4,0-31.1-14.1-26.8-32.5c5.6-21.2,15.5-45.2,15.5-60.7c0-14.1-7.1-25.4-22.6-25.4c-18.4,0-32.5,18.4-32.5,43.8c0,15.5,5.6,26.8,5.6,26.8s-18.4,76.2-21.2,90.4c-5.6,24,1.4,62.1,1.4,66.4c0,1.4,2.8,2.8,2.8,1.4c1.4-2.8,24-35.3,29.6-57.9c2.8-8.5,11.3-42.4,11.3-42.4c5.6,11.3,22.6,21.2,40.9,21.2c55.1,0,93.2-50.8,93.2-112.9C-776.9,141.2-824.9,96-888.5,96z"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-x"> <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M13.6468 10.4686L20.9321 2H19.2057L12.8799 9.3532L7.82741 2H2L9.6403 13.1193L2 22H3.72649L10.4068 14.2348L15.7425 22H21.57L13.6468 10.4686ZM11.2821 13.2173L10.508 12.1101L4.34857 3.29968H7.00037L11.9711 10.4099L12.7452 11.5172L19.2066 20.7594H16.5548L11.2821 13.2173Z"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-privacy-options"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 30 14"><path fill="#FFF" d="M7.4 12.8h6.8l3.1-11.6H7.4C4.2 1.2 1.6 3.8 1.6 7s2.6 5.8 5.8 5.8z"/><path fill="#06f" d="M22.6 0H7.4c-3.9 0-7 3.1-7 7s3.1 7 7 7h15.2c3.9 0 7-3.1 7-7s-3.2-7-7-7zm-21 7c0-3.2 2.6-5.8 5.8-5.8h9.9l-3.1 11.6H7.4c-3.2 0-5.8-2.6-5.8-5.8z"/><path fill="#FFF" d="M24.6 4c.2.2.2.6 0 .8L22.5 7l2.2 2.2c.2.2.2.6 0 .8-.2.2-.6.2-.8 0l-2.2-2.2-2.2 2.2c-.2.2-.6.2-.8 0-.2-.2-.2-.6 0-.8L20.8 7l-2.2-2.2c-.2-.2-.2-.6 0-.8.2-.2.6-.2.8 0l2.2 2.2L23.8 4c.2-.2.6-.2.8 0z"/><path fill="#06f" d="M12.7 4.1c.2.2.3.6.1.8L8.6 9.8c-.1.1-.2.2-.3.2-.2.1-.5.1-.7-.1L5.4 7.7c-.2-.2-.2-.6 0-.8.2-.2.6-.2.8 0L8 8.6l3.8-4.5c.2-.2.6-.2.9 0z"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="mntl-dotdash-universal-nav__logo"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="5 2.8 290 69"><circle cx="39.6" cy="37.4" r="34.3" fill="#f44b34"/><path fill="#fff" d="M50.4 17.9c-1.7-1.8-4-2.6-7-2.6-9.1-.1-12.4-.1-13.2-.1L27.3 22h8.1L30 28v21h-.1l.1.1v6.7l-3.6 4h18.5L53 51V25c0-.1.1-4.3-2.6-7.1zm-5.2 19.6-7.4 7.8V41l7.4-7.8v4.3zm-7.4-15.4h3c.9 0 2.1-.1 3.1.9s1.4 2.5 1.4 4.9v3.6l-7.4 7.8-.1-17.2zm-4.9 30.1 3.3-3.6 9-9.5v13.1c0 .1-12.3.1-12.3 0z"/><path fill="#009ad9" d="m99.645 22.637 6.505-6.506 4.172 4.172-6.505 6.506zM121 44l4.2 4.2 6.5-6.5-4.2-4.2zm-3.2-31.2c1.8-1.8 4.7-1.8 6.5 0 1.9 1.9 1.7 4.8 0 6.5l-3.3 3.3 4.2 4.2 3.3-3.3c2-2 4.9-1.6 6.5 0 2 2 1.6 4.9 0 6.5l-3.3 3.3 4.2 4.2 3.3-3.3c4.2-4.2 4-10.8 0-14.8-2.8-2.8-6.1-3.1-7.6-3.1.1-1.5-.3-4.8-3.1-7.6-3.9-3.9-10.6-4.2-14.8 0l-3.3 3.3 4.2 4.2 3.2-3.4zm-7.5 20.6 4.2 4.1L121 31l-4.2-4.1-6.5 6.5z"/><path fill="#6ebd44" d="m99.6 52.4 6.6 6.5 4.1-4.2-6.5-6.5zm36.3-14.9-4.2 4.2L135 45c1.6 1.6 2 4.5 0 6.5-1.6 1.6-4.5 2.1-6.5 0l-3.3-3.3-4.2 4.2 3.3 3.3c1.7 1.7 1.9 4.6 0 6.5-1.8 1.8-4.7 1.8-6.5 0l-3.3-3.3-4.2 4.2 3.3 3.3c4.2 4.2 10.9 3.9 14.8 0 2.8-2.8 3.1-6.1 3.1-7.6 1.5 0 4.8-.3 7.6-3.1 4-4 4.2-10.6 0-14.8l-3.2-3.4zm-25.6 4.2 6.5 6.5L121 44l-6.5-6.5zm14.9-14.8L121 31l6.5 6.5 4.2-4.1-6.5-6.5z"/><path fill="#f68f1e" d="m110.332 54.607 6.506-6.506 4.172 4.172-6.506 6.505zM102.8 62.2c-1.6 1.6-4.5 2-6.5 0-1.6-1.6-2.1-4.5 0-6.5l3.3-3.3-4.2-4.2-3.3 3.3c-1.7 1.7-4.6 1.9-6.5 0-1.8-1.8-1.8-4.7 0-6.5l3.3-3.3-4.2-4.2-3.3 3.3c-4.2 4.2-3.9 10.9 0 14.8 2.8 2.8 6.1 3.1 7.6 3.1 0 1.5.3 4.8 3.1 7.6 4 4 10.6 4.2 14.8 0l3.3-3.3-4.2-4.2-3.2 3.4zm3.4-24.7L99.6 44l4.2 4.2 6.5-6.5zM95.5 26.9 89 33.4l4.1 4.1 6.5-6.5z"/><path fill="#ec174c" d="m99.6 44-6.5-6.5-4.1 4.2 6.5 6.5zm-14-14c-1.8-1.8-1.8-4.7 0-6.5 1.9-1.9 4.8-1.7 6.5 0l3.3 3.3 4.2-4.2-3.3-3.3c-2-2-1.6-4.9 0-6.5 2-2 4.9-1.6 6.5 0l3.3 3.3 4.2-4.2-3.3-3.2c-4.2-4.2-10.8-4-14.8 0-2.8 2.8-3.1 6.1-3.1 7.6-1.5-.1-4.9.3-7.6 3.1-3.9 3.9-4.2 10.6 0 14.8l3.3 3.3 4.2-4.2-3.4-3.3zm24.73-9.682 4.172-4.172 6.505 6.505-4.172 4.172zM106.2 37.5l4.1-4.1-6.5-6.5-4.2 4.1 6.6 6.5z"/><path fill="#573357" d="m106.142 16.042 4.171-4.172 4.172 4.172-4.171 4.172z"/><path fill="#be272d" d="m84.81 37.543 4.172-4.172 4.172 4.172-4.172 4.172z"/><path fill="#008e4c" d="m127.497 37.555 4.171-4.172 4.172 4.172-4.171 4.172z"/><path fill="#7a773e" d="m106.172 58.866 4.172-4.172 4.172 4.172-4.172 4.172z"/><path fill="#443639" d="m116.856 26.74 4.172-4.172 4.172 4.172-4.172 4.172z"/><path fill="#803136" d="m95.455 48.169 4.172-4.172 4.172 4.172-4.172 4.172z"/><path fill="#593438" d="m95.446 26.753 4.172-4.172 4.172 4.173-4.172 4.171z"/><path fill="#443639" d="m106.155 37.456 4.172-4.172 4.172 4.171-4.172 4.172z"/><path fill="#2a6442" d="m116.871 48.153 4.172-4.172 4.172 4.172-4.172 4.172z"/><path d="M170.4 13.5c-2.5-2.2-5.7-3.3-9.6-3.3h-7.2v23.6h7.6c3.8 0 7-1.1 9.4-3.3s3.6-5 3.6-8.5-1.3-6.3-3.8-8.5zm.1 8.5c0 2.6-.9 4.7-2.6 6.2-1.7 1.6-4.1 2.3-7 2.3h-3.8V13.4h3.8c2.9 0 5.2.8 7 2.3 1.7 1.5 2.6 3.7 2.6 6.3zm14.6-6.3c-2.5 0-4.7.9-6.4 2.7s-2.6 4-2.6 6.6.9 4.8 2.6 6.6c1.7 1.8 3.9 2.7 6.4 2.7h.1v-.1c2.5 0 4.7-.9 6.4-2.7s2.6-4 2.6-6.6c0-2.5-.9-4.8-2.6-6.6-1.8-1.7-3.9-2.6-6.5-2.6zm4.1 13.7c-.5.6-1.1 1-1.8 1.3s-1.4.3-2.2.3c-1.7 0-3-.6-4.1-1.8-1.1-1.2-1.6-2.7-1.6-4.4 0-1.7.6-3.2 1.6-4.3 1.1-1.2 2.4-1.7 4.1-1.7 1.6 0 3 .6 4 1.7 1.1 1.2 1.6 2.6 1.6 4.3 0 1.9-.5 3.4-1.6 4.6zm16.9.8c-.5.6-1.3.9-2.3.9-1.6 0-2.4-.9-2.4-2.7v-9.2h5v-3h-5v-4.4h-3.3v4.4h-2.9l.1 3h2.9v9.3c0 1.9.5 3.3 1.4 4.3s2.2 1.5 3.9 1.5c1.8 0 3.2-.5 4.2-1.5l-1.6-2.6zm38.1-11.6c-1.5-2-3.5-3-6.1-3-2.5 0-4.5.9-6.1 2.7-1.6 1.8-2.4 4-2.4 6.6 0 2.7.8 4.9 2.5 6.6 1.7 1.8 3.7 2.7 6.1 2.7 2.6 0 4.6-1 6.1-3.1v2.6h3.4V16.1h-3.4v2.5h-.1zm-1.6 2c1.1 1.2 1.6 2.6 1.6 4.3s-.5 3.2-1.6 4.4c-.5.6-1.1 1-1.8 1.3s-1.4.4-2.2.4c-1.7 0-3-.6-4.1-1.8-1.1-1.2-1.6-2.7-1.6-4.4 0-1.7.6-3.2 1.6-4.3 1.1-1.2 2.4-1.7 4.1-1.7 1.6.1 2.9.6 4 1.8zm17.9 3.6c-.9-.3-1.9-.6-3-.9-1-.3-1.9-.6-2.5-1-.7-.4-1-1-1-1.6l.1-.1c0-.7.3-1.2.9-1.6.6-.4 1.4-.6 2.3-.6 2 0 3.4.7 4.5 2l2-2c-1.3-1.8-3.5-2.7-6.6-2.7-1.9 0-3.5.5-4.7 1.4-1.2 1-1.7 2.1-1.7 3.5 0 1.2.3 2.1 1 2.9s1.5 1.3 2.6 1.7c1.1.4 2 .7 2.9 1 1 .3 1.8.7 2.4 1.1.7.5 1 1 1 1.8s-.3 1.4-.9 1.8c-.6.5-1.4.7-2.5.7-2.3 0-4.1-.8-5.3-2.3l-2 2.2c1.5 1.9 3.9 2.9 7.1 2.9 2.2 0 3.9-.5 5.1-1.5s1.8-2.3 1.8-3.8c0-1.2-.3-2.2-1-3-.6-.9-1.5-1.4-2.5-1.9zm14.9-8.6c-2.3 0-4.1.8-5.2 2.5V8.4h-3.4v25.4h3.4l.1-10.3c0-1.4.4-2.6 1.2-3.4.8-.8 1.8-1.2 3.2-1.2 1.3 0 2.4.4 3.2 1.3.8.8 1.2 2 1.2 3.4v10.3h3.4V23c0-2.3-.6-4-1.9-5.4-1.4-1.4-3.1-2-5.2-2zm-52.2 3c-1.5-2-3.5-3-6.1-3-2.5 0-4.5.9-6.1 2.7-1.6 1.8-2.4 4-2.4 6.6 0 2.7.8 4.9 2.5 6.6 1.7 1.8 3.7 2.7 6.1 2.7 2.6 0 4.6-1 6.1-3.1v2.6h3.4V8.4h-3.4v10.2h-.1zm-1.6 2c1.1 1.2 1.6 2.6 1.6 4.3s-.5 3.2-1.6 4.4c-1.1 1.2-2.4 1.8-4 1.8-1.7 0-3-.6-4.1-1.8-1.1-1.2-1.6-2.7-1.6-4.4 0-1.7.6-3.2 1.6-4.3 1.1-1.2 2.4-1.7 4.1-1.7 1.6 0 2.9.5 4 1.7zm48.8 19.9h-3.6v19.1c0 2.4.7 4.1 2.1 5.1 1.2.9 3.1 1.4 5.6 1.4h.1v-3h-.1c-1.2 0-2.1-.2-2.7-.6-.9-.6-1.4-1.7-1.4-3.3V51h4.1v-3h-4.1v-7.5zm-96.2 7c-1.4 0-2.6.3-3.7 1-1 .6-1.7 1.5-2.3 2.6-1.2-2.4-3.2-3.6-6-3.6-2.2 0-4 .9-5.2 2.6V48h-3.5v18.2h3.5l.2-10.7c0-1.5.4-2.6 1.1-3.5.7-.9 1.8-1.3 3.1-1.3s2.3.4 3.1 1.3c.8.9 1.2 2 1.2 3.5v10.6h3.4V55.5c0-1.5.4-2.6 1.2-3.5s1.8-1.3 3.2-1.3c1.3 0 2.3.4 3.1 1.3.7.9 1.1 2 1.1 3.5v10.6h3.5V55c0-2.3-.6-4.1-1.9-5.5-1.3-1.3-3-2-5.1-2zm18.9 0c-2.5 0-4.7.9-6.4 2.8-1.7 1.9-2.6 4.1-2.6 6.8s.9 5 2.7 6.8c1.8 1.8 4.1 2.8 6.8 2.8h.1v-.1c1.4 0 2.7-.3 3.9-.7 1.2-.5 2.2-1.1 3-1.9l-1.8-2.4c-1.3 1.3-3 2-5 2-1.7 0-3.1-.5-4.2-1.6-1.1-1-1.8-2.4-2-4h14.3c.1-.3.1-.7.1-1.2 0-2.5-.9-4.7-2.6-6.5-1.6-1.8-3.8-2.8-6.3-2.8zm.1 3c1.4 0 2.6.5 3.6 1.3 1 .9 1.6 2.1 1.8 3.8h-10.8c.3-1.5.9-2.7 1.8-3.7 1-.9 2.2-1.4 3.6-1.4zm22.5-2.3c-.6-.5-1.6-.8-2.8-.8-1.9 0-3.4.9-4.5 2.6v-2H205v18.2h3.5l-.1-10.5c0-1.5.3-2.7.9-3.6.6-.9 1.5-1.3 2.6-1.3.9 0 1.7.2 2.3.7h.1l1.4-3.3zm9-.7c-2.5 0-4.7.9-6.4 2.8-1.7 1.9-2.6 4.1-2.6 6.8s.9 5 2.7 6.8c1.8 1.8 4.1 2.8 6.8 2.8h.1v-.1c1.4 0 2.7-.3 3.9-.7 1.2-.5 2.2-1.1 3-1.9l-1.8-2.4c-1.3 1.3-3 2-5 2-1.7 0-3.1-.5-4.2-1.6-1.1-1-1.8-2.4-2-4h14.3c.1-.3.1-.7.1-1.2 0-2.5-.9-4.7-2.6-6.5-1.6-1.8-3.8-2.8-6.3-2.8zm.1 3c1.4 0 2.6.5 3.6 1.3 1 .9 1.6 2.1 1.8 3.8h-10.8c.3-1.5.9-2.7 1.8-3.7.9-.9 2.1-1.4 3.6-1.4zm26.1 0c-1.5-2-3.6-3.1-6.3-3.1-2.5 0-4.6.9-6.3 2.7s-2.5 4.1-2.5 6.8.9 5 2.5 6.8c1.7 1.8 3.8 2.7 6.3 2.7 2.6 0 4.7-1.1 6.3-3.2v2.7h3.5V40.5h-3.5v10zm-1.7 2c1.1 1.2 1.6 2.7 1.6 4.5 0 1.7-.6 3.3-1.6 4.5-1.1 1.2-2.4 1.8-4.2 1.8-1.7 0-3.1-.6-4.2-1.8-1.1-1.2-1.7-2.7-1.7-4.5s.6-3.3 1.7-4.5c1.1-1.2 2.5-1.8 4.2-1.8 1.8.1 3.1.7 4.2 1.8zm43.5-3c-1.3-1.4-3-2.1-5.2-2.1-2.4 0-4.2.9-5.4 2.6v-9.6h-3.5v25.7h3.5l.1-10.5c0-1.5.4-2.6 1.2-3.5.8-.9 1.8-1.3 3.2-1.3 1.4 0 2.5.4 3.3 1.3.8.9 1.2 2 1.2 3.5v10.6h3.5V55c0-2.3-.6-4.1-1.9-5.5zM259.1 48h3.5v18.2h-3.5zm0-7.5h3.4v3.4h-3.4z"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-caret-right"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" x="0" y="0" viewBox="0 0 100 100" xml:space="preserve"><path d="M33 99 82.1 50 33 .9z"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-envelope"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 100 100"><path d="M100,88.3H0V11.7h100V88.3z M9.4,78.9h81.3V21.1H9.4V78.9z"/><path d="M1.1 13.9 49.6 62.3 97.8 13.9z"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-print"> <svg viewBox="0 0 176 170"><path class="print-st0" d="M46.7 12.3H125.7V33.3H46.7zM46.7 156.3h79v-74h-79V156.3zM60.3 99.7l54.7.1 0 7.5-54.7-.1L60.3 99.7zM60.3 116.7l54.7.1 0 7.5-54.7-.1L60.3 116.7zM60.3 133.7l39.4.1 0 7.5-39.4-.1L60.3 133.7z"/><circle class="print-st0" cx="147.6" cy="58.6" r="7.5"/><path class="print-st1" d="M155.9,33.3h-17.2v-33h-105v33H19c-9.5,0-18.3,8.6-18.3,18v81.7c0,0.4,1.4,0.2,1.8,0.2h31.2v36h105v-36h17.2 c9.5,0,18.8-7.2,18.8-16.7V51.4C174.7,41.9,165.4,33.3,155.9,33.3z M125.7,156.3h-79v-74h79V156.3z M125.7,33.3h-79v-21h79V33.3z M147.6,66.2c-4.2,0-7.5-3.4-7.5-7.5c0-4.2,3.4-7.5,7.5-7.5s7.5,3.4,7.5,7.5C155.1,62.8,151.8,66.2,147.6,66.2z"/><path transform="rotate(-89.907 87.615 103.541)" class="print-st1" d="M83.8 76.2H91.3V130.9H83.8z"/><path transform="rotate(-89.907 87.615 120.526)" class="print-st1" d="M83.8 93.2H91.3V147.9H83.8z"/><path transform="rotate(-89.871 79.961 137.511)" class="print-st1" d="M76.2 117.8H83.7V157.2H76.2z"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-camera"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" x="0" y="0" viewBox="0 0 100 100" xml:space="preserve"><circle fill="#333" cx="49.5" cy="55.2" r="21.6"/><circle fill="#FFF" cx="49.5" cy="55.2" r="12.8"/><path fill="#333" d="M91.5,17.6V7H44.1L41,17.6H0v76.4h99.7V17.6H91.5z M91.3,85.6H8.4V26h82.9V85.6z"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="reviewer-icon"> <svg version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" x="0" y="0" viewBox="0 0 16 15" style="enable-background:new 0 0 16 15" xml:space="preserve"><path d="M13.9,10.2c0.4-0.8,0.6-1.8,0.6-2.7c0-3.9-3.1-7-7-7s-7,3.1-7,7s3.1,7,7,7C10.4,14.5,12.9,12.7,13.9,10.2z" style="fill:#dcd8a0;stroke-width:0"/><path d="M3.5,6.5l4,3.5L15,1" style="fill:none;stroke:#333;stroke-width:1.75"/><path d="M13.5,10.6c-1.1,2.2-3.4,3.6-6,3.6c-3.7,0-6.7-3-6.7-6.7s3-6.7,6.7-6.7c2.5,0,4.6,1.3,5.8,3.3" style="fill:none;stroke:#333;stroke-width:1.25"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-sources-show"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20"><path d="M10 0C4.477 0 0 4.477 0 10s4.477 10 10 10 10-4.477 10-10S15.523 0 10 0z"/><path fill="currentColor" d="M10 10.621L6.818 7.44a1.5 1.5 0 0 0-2.121 2.122l4.242 4.242a1.5 1.5 0 0 0 2.122 0l4.242-4.242a1.5 1.5 0 0 0-2.121-2.122L10 10.621z"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-sources-hide"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20"><path d="M10 0C4.477 0 0 4.477 0 10s4.477 10 10 10 10-4.477 10-10S15.523 0 10 0z" transform="rotate(180 10 10)"/><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="nonzero" d="M10 10.621L6.818 7.44a1.5 1.5 0 0 0-2.121 2.122l4.242 4.242a1.5 1.5 0 0 0 2.122 0l4.242-4.242a1.5 1.5 0 0 0-2.121-2.122L10 10.621z" transform="rotate(180 10 10)"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-checkmark"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 19 19"><path d="M7.7,16.6l-5.8-5.8l2.8-2.8l3.2,3.2l8.6-8.2C14.8,1.2,12.3,0,9.5,0C4.3,0,0,4.3,0,9.5C0,14.7,4.3,19,9.5,19S19,14.7,19,9.5c0-1.2-0.2-2.4-0.7-3.5L7.7,16.6z"/></svg> </symbol> <symbol id="icon-cite"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20"><path d="M10 0C4.477 0 0 4.476 0 10c0 5.523 4.477 10 10 10s10-4.477 10-10c0-5.524-4.477-10-10-10z"/><path fill="currentColor" d="M15.79 8.746a5.455 5.455 0 0 1-5.384 5.455 5.466 5.466 0 0 0 2.646-3.065 2.418 2.418 0 0 1-2.114-2.394 2.426 2.426 0 1 1 4.851 0v.004zM9.724 8.746A5.456 5.456 0 0 1 4.341 14.2a5.47 5.47 0 0 0 2.645-3.065 2.418 2.418 0 0 1-2.113-2.394 2.426 2.426 0 0 1 4.851 0v.004z"/></svg> </symbol> </defs> </svg>   <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5P3SZGS" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <header id="header_1-0" class="comp header" role="banner" data-tracking-container="true"><a href="#skip-to-content" rel="nocaes" id="skip-link_1-0" class="skip-link mntl-text-link btn" data-tracking-container="true" ><span class="link__wrapper">Skip to content</span></a> <div class="menu-button-container"> <button class="menu-button"> <span class="is-vishidden">Menu</span> <div class="menu-button-inner"> <svg class="icon icon-menu " > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-menu" href="#icon-menu"></use> </svg> <svg class="icon icon-close " > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-close" href="#icon-close"></use> </svg> <div> </button> </div> <div id="logo_1-0" class="comp logo"> <a href="/" rel="home" aria-label="Visit ThoughtCo's homepage"> <span class="is-vishidden">Home</span> <svg class="icon icon-logo " > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-logo" href="#icon-logo"></use> </svg> </a> </div> <nav id="header-nav_1-0" class="comp header-nav" role="navigation"> <ul class="header-nav__list"> <li class="header-nav__list-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/sciences-math-4132465" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__list-item-link" > Science, Tech, Math </a> <ul class="header-nav__sublist"> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/science-4132464" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > Science </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/math-4133545" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > Math </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/social-sciences-4133522" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > Social Sciences </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/computer-science-4133486" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > Computer Science </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/animals-and-nature-4133421" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > Animals & Nature </a> </li> </uL> </li> <li class="header-nav__list-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/humanities-4133358" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__list-item-link" > Humanities </a> <ul class="header-nav__sublist"> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/history-and-culture-4133356" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > History & Culture </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/visual-arts-4132957" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > Visual Arts </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/literature-4133251" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > Literature </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/english-4688281" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > English </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-4133035" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > Geography </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/philosophy-4133025" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > Philosophy </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/issues-4133022" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > Issues </a> </li> </uL> </li> <li class="header-nav__list-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/languages-4133094" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__list-item-link" > Languages </a> <ul class="header-nav__sublist"> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/esl-4133095" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > English as a Second Language </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/spanish-4133085" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > Spanish </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/french-4133079" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > French </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/german-4133073" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > German </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/italian-4133069" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > Italian </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/japanese-4133062" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > Japanese </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/mandarin-4133057" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > Mandarin </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/russian-4175265" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > Russian </a> </li> </uL> </li> <li class="header-nav__list-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/resources-4132590" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__list-item-link" > Resources </a> <ul class="header-nav__sublist"> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/for-students-parents-4132588" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > For Students & Parents </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/for-educators-4132509" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > For Educators </a> </li> <li class="header-nav__sublist-item"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/for-adult-learners-4132469" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__sublist-item-link" > For Adult Learners </a> </li> </uL> </li> <li class="header-nav__list-item"> <a href="/about-us-4779650" rel="nocaes" class="header-nav__list-item-link" >About Us</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div id="general-search_1-0" class="comp general-search" data-tracking-container="true"> <button class="search-icon"> <span class="is-vishidden">Search</span> <svg class="icon icon-search " > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-search" href="#icon-search"></use> </svg> </button> <form class="general-search-form" role="search" action="/search" method="get"> <div class="input-group"> <span class="general-search__close">Close</span> <label for="search-input" class="is-vishidden">Search the site</label> <input type="text" name="q" id="search-input" class="general-search-input" placeholder="Search here..." type="text" required="required" value="" tabindex="-1"> <button class="btn btn-go" tabindex="-1"> <span class="is-vishidden">GO</span> <svg class="icon icon-search " > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-search" href="#icon-search"></use> </svg> </button> </div> </form> </div> <div class="header-nav-panel"> <nav id="fullscreen-nav_1-0" class="comp fullscreen-nav " role="navigation" data-tracking-container="true"> <ul class="fullscreen-nav-list"> <li class="fullscreen-nav-list-item" tabindex="0"> <div class="fullscreen-nav-title fullscreen-nav-title--science-tech-math" > <div> Science, Tech, Math </div> <svg class="icon icon-caret-down " > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-caret-down" href="#icon-caret-down"></use> </svg> </div> <ul class="fullscreen-nav-sub"> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/science-4132464" rel="nocaes" >Science</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/math-4133545" rel="nocaes" >Math</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/social-sciences-4133522" rel="nocaes" >Social Sciences</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/computer-science-4133486" rel="nocaes" >Computer Science</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/animals-and-nature-4133421" rel="nocaes" >Animals & Nature</a></li> </uL> </li> <li class="fullscreen-nav-list-item" tabindex="0"> <div class="fullscreen-nav-title fullscreen-nav-title--humanities" > <div> Humanities </div> <svg class="icon icon-caret-down " > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-caret-down" href="#icon-caret-down"></use> </svg> </div> <ul class="fullscreen-nav-sub"> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/history-and-culture-4133356" rel="nocaes" >History & Culture</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/visual-arts-4132957" rel="nocaes" >Visual Arts</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/literature-4133251" rel="nocaes" >Literature</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/english-4688281" rel="nocaes" >English</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-4133035" rel="nocaes" >Geography</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/philosophy-4133025" rel="nocaes" >Philosophy</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/issues-4133022" rel="nocaes" >Issues</a></li> </uL> </li> <li class="fullscreen-nav-list-item" tabindex="0"> <div class="fullscreen-nav-title fullscreen-nav-title--languages" > <div> Languages </div> <svg class="icon icon-caret-down " > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-caret-down" href="#icon-caret-down"></use> </svg> </div> <ul class="fullscreen-nav-sub"> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/esl-4133095" rel="nocaes" >English as a Second Language</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/spanish-4133085" rel="nocaes" >Spanish</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/french-4133079" rel="nocaes" >French</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/german-4133073" rel="nocaes" >German</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/italian-4133069" rel="nocaes" >Italian</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/japanese-4133062" rel="nocaes" >Japanese</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/mandarin-4133057" rel="nocaes" >Mandarin</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/russian-4175265" rel="nocaes" >Russian</a></li> </uL> </li> <li class="fullscreen-nav-list-item" tabindex="0"> <div class="fullscreen-nav-title fullscreen-nav-title--resources" > <div> Resources </div> <svg class="icon icon-caret-down " > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-caret-down" href="#icon-caret-down"></use> </svg> </div> <ul class="fullscreen-nav-sub"> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/for-students-parents-4132588" rel="nocaes" >For Students & Parents</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/for-educators-4132509" rel="nocaes" >For Educators</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/for-adult-learners-4132469" rel="nocaes" >For Adult Learners</a></li> </uL> </li> <li> <ul id="contact-nav_1-0" class="comp contact-nav"> <li class="contact-nav__nav-item"><a href="/about-us-4779650" rel="nocaes" >About Us</a></li> <li class="contact-nav__nav-item"><a href="/about-us-4779650#toc-contact-us" rel="nocaes" >Contact Us</a></li> <li class="contact-nav__nav-item"><a href="/about-us-4779650#toc-editorial-guidelines" rel="nocaes" >Editorial Guidelines</a></li> <li class="contact-nav__nav-item"><a href="https://www.dotdashmeredith.com/brands-privacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener nocaes" >Privacy Policy</a></li> </ul> </li> </uL> </nav> </div> </header> <div id="mm-ads-leaderboard-header_1-0" class="comp mm-ads-leaderboard-header mm-ads-flexible-leaderboard mm-ads-flexible-ad mm-ads-gpt-adunit leaderboard--header has-right-label gpt leaderboard "> <div id="leaderboard-flex-1" class="wrapper" ></div> </div> <div id="mm-ads-leaderboard-spacer_1-0" class="comp mm-ads-leaderboard-spacer mntl-block js-rollaway-spacer"></div><main id="main" class="loc main" role="main"><iframe id="height-change-listener" role="none" tabindex="-1" src="about:blank" aria-hidden="true"></iframe> <div id="skip-to-content" class="jump-link"></div> <article id="ref-article_1-0" class="comp ref-article mntl-article mntl-article--three-column right-rail" data-tracking-container="true"><div class="loc article-header"><div id="article-header-block_1-0" class="comp article-header-block mntl-block "><ul id="breadcrumbs_1-0" class="comp breadcrumbs mntl-universal-breadcrumbs mntl-block type--squirrel breadcrumbs" data-tracking-container="true"><li id="mntl-breadcrumbs__item_1-0" class="comp mntl-breadcrumbs__item mntl-block"><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/humanities-4133358" rel="nocaes" id="mntl-text-link_5-0" class="mntl-text-link mntl-breadcrumbs__link" data-tracking-container="true" ><span class="link__wrapper">Humanities</span></a> <span id="breadcrumbs__separator_1-0" class="comp breadcrumbs__separator mntl-text-block">›</span></li> <li id="mntl-breadcrumbs__item_2-0" class="comp mntl-breadcrumbs__item mntl-block"><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-4133035" rel="nocaes" id="mntl-text-link_6-0" class="mntl-text-link mntl-breadcrumbs__link" data-tracking-container="true" ><span class="link__wrapper">Geography</span></a> <span id="breadcrumbs__separator_2-0" class="comp breadcrumbs__separator mntl-text-block">›</span></li> <li id="mntl-breadcrumbs__item_3-0" class="comp mntl-breadcrumbs__item mntl-block"><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/physical-geography-4133032" rel="nocaes" id="mntl-text-link_7-0" class="mntl-text-link mntl-breadcrumbs__link" data-tracking-container="true" ><span class="link__wrapper">Physical Geography</span></a> <span id="breadcrumbs__separator_3-0" class="comp breadcrumbs__separator mntl-text-block">›</span></li></ul> <div id="article-heading_1-0" class="comp article-heading mntl-article-header"> <h1 class="article-heading type--lion">Ring of Fire</h1> <p class="article-subheading type--dog">Home to the Majority of the World's Active Volcanoes</p> </div></div> </div><div class="loc article-post-header"><div id="post-header-social-block_1-0" class="comp post-header-social-block mntl-block"><div id="social-share-block_1-0" class="comp social-share-block mntl-block"><ul id="social-share_1-0" class="comp social-share mntl-social-share share" data-title="Ring of Fire" document="StructuredContentDocumentEx{parent=BaseDocumentEx{templateType=STRUCTUREDCONTENT, documentId=1433460, bestTitle='Ring of Fire'}}" data-description="The Ring of Fire is a fascinating horseshoe-shaped area filled with volcanoes. Find out where the Ring of Fire is located and how it was made." data-tracking-container="true"> <li class="share-item share-item-facebook"> <span data-href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thoughtco.com%2Fring-of-fire-1433460%3Futm_source%3Dfacebook.com%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_campaign%3Dsocial-share-article" data-network="facebook" data-click-tracked="true" class="share-link share-link-facebook" tabindex="0" title="Share on Facebook" aria-label="Share on Facebook" role="link"> <svg class="icon icon-facebook " > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-facebook" href="#icon-facebook"></use> </svg> </span> </li> <li class="share-item share-item-flipboard"> <span data-href="https://share.flipboard.com/bookmarklet/popout?v=2&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thoughtco.com%2Fring-of-fire-1433460%3Futm_source%3Dflipit%26utm_medium%3Dweb%26utm_campaign%3Dwidgets%26utm_content%3Dwww.thoughtco.com&title=Ring+of+Fire&t=1739844567794" data-network="flipboard" data-click-tracked="true" class="share-link share-link-flipboard" tabindex="0" title="Share on Flipboard" aria-label="Share on Flipboard" role="link"> <svg class="icon icon-flipboard " > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-flipboard" href="#icon-flipboard"></use> </svg> </span> </li> <li class="share-item share-item-email"> <span data-href="https://www.thoughtco.com/ring-of-fire-1433460?utm_source=emailshare&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=shareurlbuttons" data-network="emailshare" data-click-tracked="true" class="share-link share-link-email" tabindex="0" title="Email this article" aria-label="Email this article" role="link"> <svg class="icon icon-envelope " > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-envelope" href="#icon-envelope"></use> </svg> </span> </li> </ul></div> <form id="print-button_1-0" class="comp print-button" method="POST" action="/ring-of-fire-1433460?print" target="_blank"> <button class="mntl-print-button__btn" aria-label="Print this article."> Print <svg class="icon icon-print mntl-print-button__icon" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-print" href="#icon-print"></use> </svg> </button> <input type="hidden" value="true" name="print" /> <input type="hidden" value="24005190d3b1a6aa98792535374b5638" name="CSRFToken" /> </form></div> <figure id="figure-article_1-0" class="comp figure-article mntl-universal-primary-image lock-primary right-rail__offset figure-landscape primary-image"> <div class="primary-image__media"> <div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:74.1%;"> <video autoplay loop playsinline muted class="mntl-gif__video primary-image__image mntl-primary-image--blurry" width="1046" height="776" aria-label="Map of the Pacific Ring of Fire" data-srcset-webm="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/9lsiOl-Ms-bqSbwi34zzXzsylig=/1500x0/filters:gifv(webm)/RingofFire-58b9de735f9b58af5cbaa334.gif 1500w" data-sizes="750px" oncanplay=(function(e){e.classList.add('loaded')})(this) style="--blurry: url('data:image/gif;charset=utf-8;base64,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')" > </video> <noscript> <video autoplay loop playsinline muted class="mntl-gif__video mntl-gif__video--fallback primary-image__image mntl-primary-image--blurry loaded primary-img--noscript" width="1046" height="776" aria-label="Map of the Pacific Ring of Fire" src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/9lsiOl-Ms-bqSbwi34zzXzsylig=/1500x0/filters:gifv(webm)/RingofFire-58b9de735f9b58af5cbaa334.gif" > </video> </noscript> </div> </div> <figcaption id="primary-image__figcap_1-0" class="comp primary-image__figcap mntl-figure-caption figure-article-caption"> <svg class="icon icon-camera figure-article-caption-icon" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-camera" href="#icon-camera"></use> </svg> <span class="figure-article-caption-text">The Ring of Fire.</span> <span class="figure-article-caption-owner"><p>USGS</p></span> </figcaption></figure> </div><div class="loc article-left-rail"> <div id="breadcrumbs-list_2-0" class="comp breadcrumbs-list hide-toplevel-small" data-tracking-container="true"><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-4133035" rel="nocaes" class="breadcrumbs-list-image" ><div class="loc image"><img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/uGOsVU8Wqy4gTVKVVw-mtbYbaSA=/150x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/left_rail_image_geography-58a22da068a0972917bfb5b4.png" width="150" height="0" alt="Geography" class=" universal-image__image" /> </div></a> <span class="breadcrumbs-list-title"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-4133035" rel="nocaes" >Geography</a> </span> <ul class="breadcrumbs-list-list"> <li class="breadcrumbs-list-item is-active empty-submenu"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/physical-geography-4133032" rel="nocaes" data-ordinal="1" class="breadcrumbs-list-link is-active" > <svg class="icon icon-caret-right breadcrumbs-list-icon-active" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-caret-right" href="#icon-caret-right"></use> </svg> Physical Geography <svg class="icon icon-caret-right breadcrumbs-list-icon" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-caret-right" href="#icon-caret-right"></use> </svg> </a> <ul class="breadcrumbs-list-submenu"> </ul> </li> <li class="breadcrumbs-list-item empty-submenu"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-basics-4133034" rel="nocaes" data-ordinal="2" class="breadcrumbs-list-link" > Basics <svg class="icon icon-caret-right breadcrumbs-list-icon" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-caret-right" href="#icon-caret-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li class="breadcrumbs-list-item empty-submenu"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/political-geography-4133033" rel="nocaes" data-ordinal="3" class="breadcrumbs-list-link" > Political Geography <svg class="icon icon-caret-right breadcrumbs-list-icon" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-caret-right" href="#icon-caret-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li class="breadcrumbs-list-item empty-submenu"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/population-4133031" rel="nocaes" data-ordinal="4" class="breadcrumbs-list-link" > Population <svg class="icon icon-caret-right breadcrumbs-list-icon" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-caret-right" href="#icon-caret-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li class="breadcrumbs-list-item empty-submenu"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/country-information-4133030" rel="nocaes" data-ordinal="5" class="breadcrumbs-list-link" > Country Information <svg class="icon icon-caret-right breadcrumbs-list-icon" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-caret-right" href="#icon-caret-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li class="breadcrumbs-list-item empty-submenu"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/key-figures-and-milestones-4133029" rel="nocaes" data-ordinal="6" class="breadcrumbs-list-link" > Key Figures & Milestones <svg class="icon icon-caret-right breadcrumbs-list-icon" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-caret-right" href="#icon-caret-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li class="breadcrumbs-list-item empty-submenu"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/maps-4133027" rel="nocaes" data-ordinal="7" class="breadcrumbs-list-link" > Maps <svg class="icon icon-caret-right breadcrumbs-list-icon" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-caret-right" href="#icon-caret-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li class="breadcrumbs-list-item empty-submenu"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/urban-geography-4133026" rel="nocaes" data-ordinal="8" class="breadcrumbs-list-link" > Urban Geography <svg class="icon icon-caret-right breadcrumbs-list-icon" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-caret-right" href="#icon-caret-right"></use> </svg> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div><div class="loc article-pre-content"><div id="article-meta_1-0" class="comp article-meta mntl-block" data-tracking-container="true"><div id="reference-bylines_1-0" class="comp reference-bylines mntl-bylines right-rail__offset"><div id="mntl-bylines__group_1-0" class="comp mntl-bylines__group mntl-block mntl-bylines__group--author"><div id="mntl-bylines__item_1-0" class="comp mntl-bylines__item mntl-attribution__item mntl-attribution__item--has-date"> <span class="mntl-attribution__item-descriptor">By</span> <div data-tooltip="Matt Rosenberg is an award-winning geographer and the author of "The Handy Geography Answer Book" and "The Geography Bee Complete Preparation Handbook."" tabindex="0" data-inline-tooltip="true"> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/matt-rosenberg-1433401" rel="nocaes" data-trigger-link="true" class="mntl-attribution__item-name" tabindex="-1" >Matt Rosenberg</a> <div id="mntl-author-tooltip_1-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip mntl-tooltip mntl-group "> <div class="mntl-author-tooltip__top mntl-author-tooltip__top--no-image"> <div id="mntl-author-tooltip__name_1-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip__name mntl-attribution__item "> <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/matt-rosenberg-1433401" rel="nocaes" class="mntl-attribution__item-name" tabindex="0" >Matt Rosenberg</a> </div> <span id="mntl-author-tooltip__job-title_1-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip__job-title mntl-text-block">Geography Expert</span> <ul id="mntl-author-tooltip__education_1-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip__education mntl-block"><li id="mntl-author-tooltip__education-item_1-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip__education-item mntl-text-block">M.A., Geography, California State University - Northridge</li> <li id="mntl-author-tooltip__education-item_2-0" class="comp mntl-author-tooltip__education-item mntl-text-block">B.A., Geography, University of California - Davis</li></ul> <div class="mntl-author-tooltip__bio"> Matt Rosenberg is an award-winning geographer and the author of "The Handy Geography Answer Book" and "The Geography Bee Complete Preparation Handbook." </div> </div> <div class="mntl-author-tooltip__bottom"> <span class="mntl-author-tooltip__learn-more-text">Learn about our</span> <a href="/about-us-4779650#toc-editorial-guidelines" rel="nocaes" class="mntl-author-tooltip__learn-more-link" >Editorial Process</a> </div> </div></div> </div> <div class="mntl-attribution__item-date">Updated on December 22, 2018</div></div> </div></div> </div><div class="loc article-content"><div id="article-content_1-0" class="comp article-content mntl-block"><div id="mntl-sc-page_1-0" class="comp mntl-sc-page mntl-block structured-content expert-content" data-sc-sticky-offset="85" data-sc-ad-label-height="24" data-sc-ad-track-spacing="100" data-sc-min-track-height="250" data-sc-max-track-height="600" data-sc-breakpoint="50em" data-sc-load-immediate="3" data-sc-content-positions="[1, 1050, 1250, 1550, 1950, 2350, 2750, 3150]" data-bind-scroll-on-start="true"><p id="mntl-sc-block_1-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> The Ring of Fire is a 25,000 mile (40,000 km) horseshoe-shaped area of intense volcanic and seismic (<a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/earthquakes-in-a-nutshell-1440517" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">earthquake</a>) activity that follows the edges of the Pacific Ocean. Receiving its fiery name from the 452 dormant and <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/largest-volcanoes-4151858" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="2">active volcanoes</a> that lie within it, the Ring of Fire includes 75% of the world's active volcanoes and is also responsible for 90% of the world's earthquakes. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_2-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <span class="heading-toc" id="toc-where-is-the-ring-of-fire"></span><h2 id="mntl-sc-block_3-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block reference-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading"> <span class="mntl-sc-block-heading__text"> Where Is the Ring of Fire? </span> </h2> <p id="mntl-sc-block_4-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> The Ring of Fire is an arc of mountains, volcanoes, and oceanic trenches that stretch from New Zealand northward along the eastern edge of Asia, then east across the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, and then south along the western coasts of North and South America. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_5-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <span class="heading-toc" id="toc-what-created-the-ring-of-fire"></span><h2 id="mntl-sc-block_6-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block reference-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading"> <span class="mntl-sc-block-heading__text"> What Created the Ring of Fire? </span> </h2> <p id="mntl-sc-block_7-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> The Ring of Fire was created by <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/what-are-plate-tectonics-1435304" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">plate tectonics</a>. Tectonic plates are like giant rafts on the Earth's surface that often slide next to, collide with, and are forced underneath each other. The Pacific Plate is quite large and thus it borders (and interacts) with a number of large and small plates. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_8-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <p id="mntl-sc-block_9-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> The interactions between the Pacific Plate and its surrounding tectonic plates creates a tremendous amount of energy, which, in turn, easily melts rocks into magma. This magma then rises to the surface as lava and forms volcanoes. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_10-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <span class="heading-toc" id="toc-major-volcanoes-in-the-ring-of-fire"></span><h2 id="mntl-sc-block_11-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block reference-sc-block-heading mntl-sc-block-heading"> <span class="mntl-sc-block-heading__text"> Major Volcanoes in the Ring of Fire </span> </h2> <p id="mntl-sc-block_12-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> With 452 volcanoes, the Ring of Fire has some that are more famous that others. The following is a listing of major volcanoes in the Ring of Fire. </p> <div id="mntl-sc-block_13-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <ul id="mntl-sc-block_14-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> <li><strong>The Andes —</strong> Running 5,500 miles (8,900 km) north and south along the western edge of South America, the Andes Mountains are the longest, continental mountain range in the world. The Andean Volcanic Belt is within the mountain range and is broken up into four volcanic zones that include such active volcanoes as Cotopaxi and Cerro Azul. It is also home to the highest, active volcano — Ojos del Salado.</li> <li><strong>Popocatepetl</strong> — Popocatepetl is an active volcano in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Located near Mexico City, this volcano is considered by many to be the most dangerous in the world since a large eruption could potentially kill millions of people.</li> <li><strong>Mt. Saint Helens</strong> — The Cascade Mountains in the United States' Pacific Northwest hosts the 800 mile (1,300 km) Cascade Volcanic Arc. The Cascades contain 13 major volcanoes and nearly 3,000 other volcanic features. The most recent eruption in the Cascades occurred at <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/mt-st-helens-1779771" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">Mt. Saint Helens</a> in 1980.</li> <li><strong>Aleutian Islands</strong> -- Alaska's Aleutian Islands, which consist of 14 large and 55 small islands, were made from volcanic activity. The Aleutians contain 52 volcanoes, with a few of the most active being Cleveland, Okmok, and Akutan. The deep Aleutian Trench, which also sits next to the islands, has been created at the subduction zone with a maximum depth of 25,194 feet (7679 meters).</li><span class="mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-sc-block-adslot-inline"></span> <li><strong>Mt. Fuji</strong> — Located on the Japanese island of Honshu, Mt. Fuji, at 12,380 feet (3,776 m), is the tallest mountain in Japan and the world's most visited mountain. However, Mt. Fuji is more than a mountain, it is an active volcano that last erupted in 1707.</li> <li><strong>Krakatoa</strong> — In the Indonesia Island Arc sits Krakatoa, remembered for its massive eruption on August 27, 1883 that killed 36,000 people and was heard 2,800 miles away (it is considered the loudest sound in modern history). The Indonesian Island Arc is also home to Mt. Tambora, whose eruption on April 10, 1815 was the largest in major history, being calculated as a 7 on the Volcanic Explosion Index (VEI).</li> <li><strong>Mt. Ruapehu —</strong> Rising to 9,177 feet (2797 m), Mt. Ruapehu is the tallest mountain on the North Island of New Zealand. Located in the southern section of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, Mt. Ruapehu is New Zealand's most active volcano.</li> </ul> <div id="mntl-sc-block_15-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block"></div> <p id="mntl-sc-block_16-0" class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html"> As a place that produces most of the world's volcanic activity and earthquakes, the Ring of Fire is a fascinating place. Understanding more about the Ring of Fire and being able to accurately predict volcanic eruptions and earthquakes may help eventually save millions of lives. </p></div> <div id="sources-and-citation_1-0" class="comp sources-and-citation mntl-block"><div id="citation-widget_1-0" class="comp citation-widget js-citation-widget" data-tracking-container="true"> <div class="citation-widget__container js-container"> <button class="citation-widget__button js-button"> <span class="citation-widget__cite-label">Cite this Article </span> <svg class="icon icon-cite citation-widget__icon-cite" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-cite" href="#icon-cite"></use> </svg> </button> <div class="citation-widget__window js-window"> <svg class="icon icon-close citation-widget__icon-close js-icon-close" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-close" href="#icon-close"></use> </svg> <div class="citation-widget__heading">Format</div> <a href="#" class="citation-widget__format-link citation-widget__format-link--active js-format-link">mla</a> <a href="#" class="citation-widget__format-link js-format-link">apa</a> <a href="#" class="citation-widget__format-link js-format-link">chicago</a> <div class="citation-widget__heading">Your Citation</div> <div class="citation-widget__content js-content"> <span class="citation-widget__citation citation-widget__citation--active js-active" data-citation-format="mla">Rosenberg, Matt. "Ring of Fire." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/ring-of-fire-1433460.</span> <span class="citation-widget__citation" data-citation-format="apa">Rosenberg, Matt. (2023, April 5). Ring of Fire. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/ring-of-fire-1433460</span> <span class="citation-widget__citation" data-citation-format="chicago">Rosenberg, Matt. "Ring of Fire." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/ring-of-fire-1433460 (accessed February 18, 2025).</span> </div> <div class="citation-widget__copy-container"> <button class="citation-widget__copy-button js-copy-button"> <div class="citation-widget__copy-wrapper"> <svg class="icon icon-checkmark citation-widget__icon-checkmark" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-checkmark" href="#icon-checkmark"></use> </svg> <span class="citation-widget__copy-label js-copy-label">copy citation</span> </div> </button> </div> </div> </div> </div></div></div> </div><div class="loc article-right-rail"><div id="mm-ads-right-rail_1-0" class="comp mm-ads-right-rail mntl-block"><div id="sc-billboard-group_1-0" class="comp sc-billboard-group mntl-block js-scads-inline-content"><div id="mntl-block_2-0" class="comp mntl-block"><div id="ref-billboard1-sticky-dynamic_1-0" class="comp ref-billboard1-sticky-dynamic mntl-block"><div id="mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad_1-0" class="comp mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad mm-ads-squareFlex1-sticky mm-ads-sc-sticky-square scads-to-load right-rail__item" data-height="1050" style="height: 1050px;"><div id="mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad_2-0" class="comp mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad mm-ads-square mm-ads-gpt-adunit gpt square "> <div id="square-flex-1" class="wrapper" ></div> </div></div></div></div> <div id="mntl-block_3-0" class="comp mntl-block"><div id="ref-billboard2-sticky-dynamic_1-0" class="comp ref-billboard2-sticky-dynamic mntl-block"><div id="mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad_3-0" class="comp mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad mm-ads-squareFlex2-sticky-dynamic mm-ads-sc-sticky-square scads-to-load right-rail__item" data-height="600" style="height: 600px;"><div id="mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad_4-0" class="comp mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad mm-ads-square mm-ads-gpt-adunit gpt square dynamic"> <div id="square-flex-2" class="wrapper" data-type="square" data-pos="btf1" data-priority="2" data-sizes="[[300, 250],[300, 600],[160, 600],"fluid"]" data-rtb="true" data-wait-for-third-party="false" data-targeting="{}"></div> </div></div></div></div> <div id="mntl-block_4-0" class="comp mntl-block"><div id="mm-ads-native_1-0" class="comp mm-ads-native " style="--native-ad-height: auto"><div id="mm-ads-native__adunit_1-0" class="comp mm-ads-native__adunit mm-ads-gpt-dynamic-adunit mm-ads-gpt-adunit scads-to-load gpt native dynamic"> <div id="native" class="wrapper" data-type="native" data-pos="native" data-priority="4" data-sizes="[[1, 3],"fluid"]" data-rtb="false" data-wait-for-third-party="false" data-targeting="{}"></div> </div></div></div> <div id="mntl-block_5-0" class="comp mntl-block"><div id="ref-billboard3-sticky-dynamic_1-0" class="comp ref-billboard3-sticky-dynamic mntl-block"><div id="mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad_5-0" class="comp mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad mm-ads-squareFixed-sticky-dynamic mm-ads-sc-sticky-square scads-to-load right-rail__item" data-height="600" style="height: 600px;"><div id="mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad_6-0" class="comp mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad mm-ads-square mm-ads-gpt-adunit gpt square dynamic"> <div id="square-fixed" class="wrapper" data-type="square" data-pos="atf" data-priority="2" data-sizes="[[300, 250],"fluid"]" data-rtb="true" data-wait-for-third-party="false" data-targeting="{}"></div> </div></div></div></div> <div id="mntl-block_6-0" class="comp mntl-block"><div id="ref-billboard4-sticky-dynamic_1-0" class="comp ref-billboard4-sticky-dynamic mntl-block"><div id="mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad_7-0" class="comp mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad mm-ads-squareFixed-sticky-dynamic mm-ads-sc-sticky-square scads-to-load right-rail__item" data-height="600" style="height: 600px;"><div id="mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad_8-0" class="comp mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad mm-ads-square mm-ads-gpt-adunit gpt square dynamic"> <div id="square-fixed" class="wrapper" data-type="square" data-pos="atf" data-priority="2" data-sizes="[[300, 250],"fluid"]" data-rtb="true" data-wait-for-third-party="false" data-targeting="{}"></div> </div></div></div></div> <div id="mntl-block_7-0" class="comp mntl-block"><div id="ref-billboard5-sticky-dynamic_1-0" class="comp ref-billboard5-sticky-dynamic mntl-block"><div id="mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad_9-0" class="comp mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad mm-ads-squareFixed-sticky-dynamic mm-ads-sc-sticky-square scads-to-load right-rail__item" data-height="600" style="height: 600px;"><div id="mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad_10-0" class="comp mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad mm-ads-square mm-ads-gpt-adunit gpt square dynamic"> <div id="square-fixed" class="wrapper" data-type="square" data-pos="atf" data-priority="2" data-sizes="[[300, 250],"fluid"]" data-rtb="true" data-wait-for-third-party="false" data-targeting="{}"></div> </div></div></div></div> <div id="mntl-block_8-0" class="comp mntl-block"><div id="ref-billboard6-sticky-dynamic_1-0" class="comp ref-billboard6-sticky-dynamic mntl-block"><div id="mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad_11-0" class="comp mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad mm-ads-squareFixed-sticky-dynamic mm-ads-sc-sticky-square scads-to-load right-rail__item" data-height="600" style="height: 600px;"><div id="mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad_12-0" class="comp mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad mm-ads-square mm-ads-gpt-adunit gpt square dynamic"> <div id="square-fixed" class="wrapper" data-type="square" data-pos="atf" data-priority="2" data-sizes="[[300, 250],"fluid"]" data-rtb="true" data-wait-for-third-party="false" data-targeting="{}"></div> </div></div></div></div> <div id="mntl-block_9-0" class="comp mntl-block"><div id="ref-billboard7-sticky-dynamic_1-0" class="comp ref-billboard7-sticky-dynamic mntl-block"><div id="mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad_13-0" class="comp mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad mm-ads-squareFixed-sticky-dynamic mm-ads-sc-sticky-square scads-to-load right-rail__item" data-height="600" style="height: 600px;"><div id="mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad_14-0" class="comp mm-ads-sc-sticky-square-ad mm-ads-square mm-ads-gpt-adunit gpt square dynamic"> <div id="square-fixed" class="wrapper" data-type="square" data-pos="atf" data-priority="2" data-sizes="[[300, 250],"fluid"]" data-rtb="true" data-wait-for-third-party="false" data-targeting="{}"></div> </div></div></div></div> <div id="mntl-block_10-0" class="comp mntl-block"></div> <div id="mntl-block_11-0" class="comp mntl-block"></div> <div id="mntl-block_12-0" class="comp mntl-block"></div></div></div> </div></article> <div id="prefooter--outbrain_1-0" class="comp prefooter--outbrain prefooter mntl-block"><div id="reference-outbrain_1-0" class="comp reference-outbrain mntl-outbrain"> <div class="OUTBRAIN js-outbrain-widget" data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/ring-of-fire-1433460" data-widget-id="AR_1"></div> </div> <section id="masonry-list-section_1-0" class="comp masonry-list-section mntl-block" data-tracking-container="true"><ul id="mntl-masonry-tax-card-list_1-0" class="comp mntl-masonry-tax-card-list mntl-masonry-card-list mntl-masonry-list mntl-block masonry-list"><li id="masonry-list__item_1-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_1-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1435537" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-of-the-pacific-ocean-1435537" data-ordinal="1" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:73.3%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/YBL568TzHXndmvN43JuTSBDKCHI=/250x1483/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-157563215-347cead390564ffc8e46e5045f404288.jpg" width="250" height="1483" alt="Australia and New Zealand" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.363" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/YBL568TzHXndmvN43JuTSBDKCHI=/250x1483/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-157563215-347cead390564ffc8e46e5045f404288.jpg" width="250" height="1483" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="Australia and New Zealand" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="Physical Geography"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">Geography of the Pacific Ocean</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_2-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_2-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1434988" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-and-overview-of-tsunamis-1434988" data-ordinal="2" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:70.6%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/HQ7Wr1z2qe5XvBL9lINqd_0O2Ow=/250x1456/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/96332332-58b9ca723df78c353c373f3f.jpg" width="250" height="1456" alt="Tsunami hazard zone warning sign, close-up" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.416" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/HQ7Wr1z2qe5XvBL9lINqd_0O2Ow=/250x1456/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/96332332-58b9ca723df78c353c373f3f.jpg" width="250" height="1456" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="Tsunami hazard zone warning sign, close-up" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="Physical Geography"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">Geography and Overview of Tsunamis</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_3-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_3-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="4164138" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/longest-coastlines-in-the-world-4164138" data-ordinal="3" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:56.2%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/30ejyZyNOtFQvMVD5CJ6ECDIxxw=/250x844/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-743733961-5b02a6edff1b7800209cffc7.jpg" width="250" height="844" alt="Aerial View Of Trees By Sea" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.777" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/30ejyZyNOtFQvMVD5CJ6ECDIxxw=/250x844/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-743733961-5b02a6edff1b7800209cffc7.jpg" width="250" height="844" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="Aerial View Of Trees By Sea" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="Physical Geography"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">Longest Coastlines in the World</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_4-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_4-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1435193" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-of-the-worlds-oceans-1435193" data-ordinal="4" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:60.6%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/ED80qYgQ8jxVfcudw_ndAojJesk=/250x997/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/beach-exotic-holiday-248797-50a4923893ab4eddb49a5df232a33069.jpg" width="250" height="997" alt="Beach and beautiful blue ocean under a bright blue sky." class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.65" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/ED80qYgQ8jxVfcudw_ndAojJesk=/250x997/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/beach-exotic-holiday-248797-50a4923893ab4eddb49a5df232a33069.jpg" width="250" height="997" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="Beach and beautiful blue ocean under a bright blue sky." /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="Physical Geography"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">Geography and Facts About the World's 5 Oceans</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_5-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_5-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="4157735" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/largest-coral-reefs-4157735" data-ordinal="5" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:66.6%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/DD3-RvamStVo0enEp2FGNgo_zpc=/250x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BarrierReef-58d045255f9b581d721455b8.jpg" width="250" height="1000" alt="Great barrier reef" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.5" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/DD3-RvamStVo0enEp2FGNgo_zpc=/250x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BarrierReef-58d045255f9b581d721455b8.jpg" width="250" height="1000" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="Great barrier reef" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="Physical Geography"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">The Largest Coral Reefs in the World</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_6-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_6-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="4164135" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/largest-seas-on-earth-4164135" data-ordinal="6" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:74.9%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/fbdaknGoIWxnuJ7jm2b99zcqJKo=/250x1124/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-822648750-5b02a55fba61770036f59368.jpg" width="250" height="1124" alt="aerial view container ship or cargo vessel sailing ship at sea at blue sky" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.335" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/fbdaknGoIWxnuJ7jm2b99zcqJKo=/250x1124/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-822648750-5b02a55fba61770036f59368.jpg" width="250" height="1124" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="aerial view container ship or cargo vessel sailing ship at sea at blue sky" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="Physical Geography"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">10 Largest Seas in the World</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_7-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_7-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="4070411" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-the-continental-divide-4070411" data-ordinal="7" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:66.4%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/90q9w1qlpsrgE8JV13zudwOpY6o=/250x2400/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/colorado-scenics-158472172-5a5ceb3789eacc003721c3ff.jpg" width="250" height="2400" alt="A Colorado sign marks the Continental Divide" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.506" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/90q9w1qlpsrgE8JV13zudwOpY6o=/250x2400/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/colorado-scenics-158472172-5a5ceb3789eacc003721c3ff.jpg" width="250" height="2400" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="A Colorado sign marks the Continental Divide" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="Physical Geography"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">What Is the Continental Divide?</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_8-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_8-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1435561" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/seas-of-the-pacific-ocean-1435561" data-ordinal="8" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:62.9%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/51OPFIS1yyjOxxdRRm3b4IjQV64=/250x944/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-200114042-001-59c6826b0d327a00112e28a4.jpg" width="250" height="944" alt="Australia, Great Barrier Reef, heart shaped reef, aerial view." class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.589" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/51OPFIS1yyjOxxdRRm3b4IjQV64=/250x944/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-200114042-001-59c6826b0d327a00112e28a4.jpg" width="250" height="944" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="Australia, Great Barrier Reef, heart shaped reef, aerial view." /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="Physical Geography"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">Seas of the Pacific Ocean</span></div> </div> </a></li></ul> <div id="reference-outbrain_2-0" class="comp reference-outbrain mntl-outbrain"> <div class="OUTBRAIN js-outbrain-widget" data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/ring-of-fire-1433460" data-widget-id="AR_2"></div> </div> <ul id="mntl-masonry-tax-card-list_2-0" class="comp mntl-masonry-tax-card-list mntl-masonry-card-list mntl-masonry-list mntl-block masonry-list"><li id="masonry-list__item_9-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_9-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1435150" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-of-united-states-low-points-1435150" data-ordinal="1" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:66.2%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/6Zy75XIvmzJb2Zg0NoSyJyH0K4E=/250x1325/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Death_Valley_exit_SR190_view_Panamint_Butt_flash_flood_2013-5b70edc7c9e77c0025e0b6b3.jpg" width="250" height="1325" alt="Flash flood near Panamint Butte, Death Valley" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.509" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/6Zy75XIvmzJb2Zg0NoSyJyH0K4E=/250x1325/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Death_Valley_exit_SR190_view_Panamint_Butt_flash_flood_2013-5b70edc7c9e77c0025e0b6b3.jpg" width="250" height="1325" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="Flash flood near Panamint Butte, Death Valley" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="Physical Geography"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">Geography of United States Low Points</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_10-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_10-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="4165311" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/states-with-the-longest-coastlines-4165311" data-ordinal="2" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:75.0%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/b2PbXw5_8aeUulXsMqO_0ssscQw=/250x1125/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-902313126-5b36e85d46e0fb0054e35ebc.jpg" width="250" height="1125" alt="South Beach Miami skyline, Florida, USA" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.333" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/b2PbXw5_8aeUulXsMqO_0ssscQw=/250x1125/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-902313126-5b36e85d46e0fb0054e35ebc.jpg" width="250" height="1125" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="South Beach Miami skyline, Florida, USA" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="Physical Geography"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">States With the Longest Shorelines</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_11-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_11-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1435366" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/names-for-water-bodies-1435366" data-ordinal="3" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:75.0%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/rjXKBIgNbfU4BBZFxEBJfqxeMh4=/250x750/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Lake-Michigan-58f681995f9b581d593f4b57.jpg" width="250" height="750" alt="Lake Michigan" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.333" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/rjXKBIgNbfU4BBZFxEBJfqxeMh4=/250x750/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Lake-Michigan-58f681995f9b581d593f4b57.jpg" width="250" height="750" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="Lake Michigan" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="Physical Geography"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">Learn the Names for Bodies of Water</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_12-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_12-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1434982" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/deadliest-tsunamis-overview-1434982" data-ordinal="4" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:72.2%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/ZkRTp94jHwBFYIIlV0xwfOwaheM=/250x1807/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-110399188-93048e6eee954efa89841d0246017cd8.jpg" width="250" height="1807" alt="tsunami breeching an embankment and flowing into the city of Miyako, Japan" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.384" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/ZkRTp94jHwBFYIIlV0xwfOwaheM=/250x1807/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-110399188-93048e6eee954efa89841d0246017cd8.jpg" width="250" height="1807" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="tsunami breeching an embankment and flowing into the city of Miyako, Japan" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="Physical Geography"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">The 10 Deadliest Tsunamis of All Time</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_13-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_13-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1435186" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/indian-ocean-seas-1435186" data-ordinal="5" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:100.0%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/hLc2n5_fhq4S4F0LGVaVxfNdUZ0=/250x3156/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/CC000273-58b9cdba3df78c353c384259.jpg" width="250" height="3156" alt="Globe Showing Asia" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/hLc2n5_fhq4S4F0LGVaVxfNdUZ0=/250x3156/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/CC000273-58b9cdba3df78c353c384259.jpg" width="250" height="3156" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="Globe Showing Asia" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="Physical Geography"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">Indian Ocean Seas</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_14-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_14-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="4588911" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/alaska-national-parks-4588911" data-ordinal="6" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:66.7%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/e18v4Js0UcFxyejX0bTI5eBF7_M=/250x2002/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/president-obama-changing-mt--mckinley-name-back-to-denali-486179442-5c8c874446e0fb000146ad18.jpg" width="250" height="2002" alt="President Obama Changing Mt. McKinley Name Back To Denali" class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.499" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/e18v4Js0UcFxyejX0bTI5eBF7_M=/250x2002/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/president-obama-changing-mt--mckinley-name-back-to-denali-486179442-5c8c874446e0fb000146ad18.jpg" width="250" height="2002" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="President Obama Changing Mt. McKinley Name Back To Denali" /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="Physical Geography"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">Alaska National Parks: Glacial Landscapes, Explorers, and First People</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_15-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_15-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1435531" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/seas-of-the-atlantic-ocean-1435531" data-ordinal="7" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:100.0%;"> <video autoplay loop playsinline muted class="mntl-gif__video card__img universal-image__image" width="250" height="328" aria-label="Atlantic Ocean" data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/50INWG4iUIMUeMP3kPkjojM7KFU=/250x328/filters:gifv(webm)/3Atlantic-58b9d1d43df78c353c38f106.gif" data-dim-ratio="1" > </video> <noscript> <video autoplay loop playsinline muted class="mntl-gif__video mntl-gif__video--fallback card__img universal-image__image " width="250" height="328" aria-label="Atlantic Ocean" src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/P4JNYgGmYt5ogX99QXMP9-1i0XA=/300x0/filters:gifv(webm)/3Atlantic-58b9d1d43df78c353c38f106.gif" > </video> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="Physical Geography"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">Seas of the Atlantic Ocean</span></div> </div> </a></li> <li id="masonry-list__item_16-0" class="comp masonry-list__item mntl-block"><a id="mntl-card_16-0" class="comp mntl-card mntl-document-card is-inverted-small card card--no-image" data-doc-id="1435833" data-tax-levels href="https://www.thoughtco.com/what-are-the-seven-seas-1435833" data-ordinal="8" data-cta="Read Now ▸"> <div class="loc card__top"><div class="card__media mntl-universal-image universal-image__container"><div class="img-placeholder" style="padding-bottom:66.6%;"> <img data-src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/j7zZKq60My-PMqQ65mCaOZjhu9Q=/250x2000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/sevenseas-58b59a4b3df78cdcd86f2575.jpg" width="250" height="2000" alt="A ship set sail for Europe." class="lazyload card__img universal-image__image" data-dim-ratio="1.5" /> <noscript> <img src="https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/j7zZKq60My-PMqQ65mCaOZjhu9Q=/250x2000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/sevenseas-58b59a4b3df78cdcd86f2575.jpg" width="250" height="2000" class="img--noscript card__img universal-image__image" alt="A ship set sail for Europe." /> </noscript> </div></div> </div> <div class="card__content " > <div class="card__header" data-kicker="Physical Geography"></div> <div class="card__title"><span class="card__title-text ">History of the Seven Seas</span></div> </div> </a></li></ul> <div id="leaderboard2-deferred-footer_1-0" class="comp leaderboard2-deferred-footer mm-ads-leaderboardfooter-flex-2-lazy mm-ads-flexible-leaderboard-lazy mm-ads-flexible-leaderboard mm-ads-flexible-ad mm-ads-gpt-adunit js-lazy-ad has-right-label leaderboard gpt leaderboard dynamic"> <div id="leaderboardfooter-flex-2" class="wrapper" data-type="leaderboard" data-pos="atf" data-priority="1" data-sizes="[[728, 90], [970, 250], "fluid"]" data-rtb="true" data-wait-for-third-party="false" data-targeting="{}"></div> </div></section></div> </main><footer id="footer_1-0" class="comp footer mntl-footer" role="contentinfo" data-tracking-container="true"> <div class="mntl-footer__inner"> <div class="mntl-footer__primary"> <div class="mntl-footer__logo"> <a href="/" rel="home nocaes" id="mntl-logo_1-0" aria-label="Visit the homepage" > <div class="is-screenreader-only">ThoughtCo</div> <svg class="icon icon-logo " > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-logo" href="#icon-logo"></use> </svg></a> </div> <div class="mntl-footer__social"> <div id="mntl-footer-social_1-0" class="comp mntl-footer-social reference-social-nav mntl-social-nav" data-tracking-container="true"> <h2 class="social-nav__title">Follow Us</h2> <ul class="social-nav__list"> <li class="social-nav__item social-nav__item--facebook"> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/thoughtcodotcom" target="_blank" rel="noopener nocaes" class="social-nav__link social-nav__link--facebook" aria-label="Visit ThoughtCo's Facebook" > <svg class="icon icon-facebook social-nav__icon" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-facebook" href="#icon-facebook"></use> </svg> </a> </li> <li class="social-nav__item social-nav__item--flipboard"> <a href="https://flipboard.com/@thoughtco?utm_source=thoughtco&utm_medium=follow&utm_campaign=tools" target="_blank" rel="noopener nocaes" class="social-nav__link social-nav__link--flipboard" aria-label="Visit ThoughtCo's Flipboard" > <svg class="icon icon-flipboard social-nav__icon" > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#icon-flipboard" href="#icon-flipboard"></use> </svg> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mntl-footer__secondary"> <nav id="mntl-footer-nav_1-0" class="comp mntl-footer-nav mntl-block" aria-label="Footer"><ul id="mntl-block_1-0" class="comp mntl-block mntl-footer-nav__list"><li id="mntl-footer-nav__list-item_1-0" class="comp mntl-footer-nav__list-item mntl-block"><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/sciences-math-4132465" rel="nocaes" id="mntl-text-link_1-0" class="mntl-text-link type--squirrel-link" data-tracking-container="true" ><span class="link__wrapper">Science, Tech, Math</span></a></li> <li id="mntl-footer-nav__list-item_2-0" class="comp mntl-footer-nav__list-item mntl-block"><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/humanities-4133358" rel="nocaes" id="mntl-text-link_2-0" class="mntl-text-link type--squirrel-link" data-tracking-container="true" ><span class="link__wrapper">Humanities</span></a></li> <li id="mntl-footer-nav__list-item_3-0" class="comp mntl-footer-nav__list-item mntl-block"><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/languages-4133094" rel="nocaes" id="mntl-text-link_3-0" class="mntl-text-link type--squirrel-link" data-tracking-container="true" ><span class="link__wrapper">Languages</span></a></li> <li id="mntl-footer-nav__list-item_4-0" class="comp mntl-footer-nav__list-item mntl-block"><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/resources-4132590" rel="nocaes" id="mntl-text-link_4-0" class="mntl-text-link type--squirrel-link" data-tracking-container="true" ><span class="link__wrapper">Resources</span></a></li></ul></nav><ul id="mntl-footer-links_1-0" class="comp mntl-footer-links footer-links"> <li class="mntl-footer-links__item "> <a href="/about-us-4779650" rel="nocaes" data-type="ourStory" data-ordinal="1" class="mntl-footer-links__link type--rabbit-link" data-component="footerLinks" data-source="footerLinks" > About Us </a> </li> <li class="mntl-footer-links__item "> <a href="https://www.dotdashmeredith.com/advertising" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow nocaes" data-type="advertise" data-ordinal="1" class="mntl-footer-links__link type--rabbit-link" data-component="footerLinks" data-source="footerLinks" > Advertise </a> </li> <li class="mntl-footer-links__item "> <a href="https://www.dotdashmeredith.com/careers" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow nocaes" data-type="careersAtDotDashMeredith" data-ordinal="1" class="mntl-footer-links__link type--rabbit-link" data-component="footerLinks" data-source="footerLinks" > Careers </a> </li> <li class="mntl-footer-links__item "> <a href="https://www.dotdashmeredith.com/brands-privacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow nocaes" data-type="privacyPolicy" data-ordinal="1" class="mntl-footer-links__link type--rabbit-link" data-component="footerLinks" data-source="footerLinks" > Privacy Policy </a> </li> <li class="mntl-footer-links__item "> <a href="/about-us-4779650#toc-editorial-guidelines" rel="nocaes" data-type="editorialGuidelines" data-ordinal="1" class="mntl-footer-links__link type--rabbit-link" data-component="footerLinks" data-source="footerLinks" > Editorial Guidelines </a> </li> <li class="mntl-footer-links__item "> <a href="/about-us-4779650#toc-contact-us" rel="nocaes" data-type="contact" data-ordinal="1" class="mntl-footer-links__link type--rabbit-link" data-component="footerLinks" data-source="footerLinks" > Contact </a> </li> <li class="mntl-footer-links__item "> <a href="https://www.dotdashmeredith.com/brands-termsofservice" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow nocaes" data-type="termsOfService" data-ordinal="1" class="mntl-footer-links__link type--rabbit-link" data-component="footerLinks" data-source="footerLinks" > Terms of Service </a> </li> <li class="mntl-footer-links__item mntl-truste-badge-wrapper"> <div class="loc truste-badge"><div id="mntl-universal-truste-badge_1-0" class="comp mntl-universal-truste-badge mntl-block"><a href="//privacy.truste.com/privacy-seal/validation?rid=e166d0ee-e663-4ad0-9384-f5bd78093a89" target="_blank" rel="noopener nocaes" id="mntl-universal-truste-badge_1-0-link" class="mntl-truste-badge-link" data-tracking-container="true" > <img class="mntl-truste-badge-image lazyload" alt="Access TRUSTe's Enterprise Privacy Certification program" data-src="//privacy-policy.truste.com/privacy-seal/seal?rid=e166d0ee-e663-4ad0-9384-f5bd78093a89" width="100" height="32" /> </a></div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="loc footer-bottom"><div id="mntl-dotdash-universal-nav_1-0" class="comp mntl-dotdash-universal-nav mntl-carbon-dotdash-universal-nav" data-tracking-container="true"> <div class="mntl-dotdash-universal-nav__content"> <svg class="icon mntl-dotdash-universal-nav__logo " > <use xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="#mntl-dotdash-universal-nav__logo" href="#mntl-dotdash-universal-nav__logo"></use> </svg> <div class="mntl-dotdash-universal-nav__wrapper"> <div class="mntl-dotdash-universal-nav__text"> ThoughtCo is part of the <a href="https://www.dotdashmeredith.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow nocaes" class="mntl-dotdash-universal-nav__text--link" >Dotdash Meredith</a> publishing family. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></footer><svg class="is-hidden"> <defs> <symbol id="mntl-sc-block-starrating-icon"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 20 20"> <path d="M0,0v20h20V0H0z M14.2,12.2l1.1,6.3l-5.4-3.2l-5.1,3.2l1-6.3L1.4,8l5.9-0.8l2.6-5.8l2.7,5.8L18.5,8L14.2,12.2z"/> </svg> </symbol> </defs> </svg><script type="text/javascript" data-glb-js="bottom" src="/static/4.41.0/cache/eNqNVG1y4yAMvdAyPkT_7iVkkG0lMkpBJHFPXwxJNnFdNjMeC4n3HujD7qKCku1m8MrY3TymPnaH_HwmDMuf7hWUN5ISkxJG0ydiNRfSyfyKnvPCnMETM5hogzBvUVbmk3j0GjvyisEDdw4HDCu_LAK6BynHTgyLgeRIGlJHULzWdwMFw5CzySDD5I8m4CWQ1pMzasZg8TdMQxWvNQ36qpxS0B_BfwLiEmMBMXzl1FxD-0JuxGy9KA1kM0q86cH7emvCm_OGxIQ0TvoxgR_xL0XFVWMv-NB6EhlZ-tyoCcEV1mr2cIOEOaNXGWATEYKdNu4ezcOZxpJcNyTmPDmI3uToxn2ei9IeznduTdgMYxnMkYa9BqwDChdYfuw9afQQi8TAeKWesd0wR8Ay3kzp_ButiWJprc8EoRz17L9BVxFWOt1t6wNIOkkwd8JhG9nrzf0US1rHrwa2_vbUzQ8mZue49KSxVev4me4lsIbFHk2NtDg-b5wLp64a6UvSPgD5x-I_lz6kuH526IwVTrOPDe0ZoviwlIl8cb4BKlwaRg.min.js" async defer="true"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> Mntl.utilities.scriptsOnLoad(document.querySelectorAll('script[data-glb-js="bottom"]'), function() { var Mntl = window.Mntl || {}; window.Mntl.affiliateLinkRewriter.setMappings( { DOC_ID: '1433460' ,SITE: 'thoughtco' ,REQUEST_ID: 'n5ea85272a49948509e22a34fa54f092f02' } );window.Mntl.externalizeLinks.addPlugin(window.Mntl.affiliateLinkRewriter); window.Mntl.externalizeLinks.addPlugin(window.Mntl.amazonAffiliateTagger); window.Mntl.externalizeLinks.init();(function() { var article = document.getElementById('ref-article_1-0'); if (article && !article.gtmPageView) { article.gtmPageView = {"country":"SG","description":"The Ring of Fire is a fascinating horseshoe-shaped area filled with volcanoes. Find out where the Ring of Fire is located and how it was made.","title":"The Ring of Fire — Pacific Ocean" || document.title || '',"viewType":"","authorId":"268","documentId":1433460,"contentGroup":"Other","revenueGroup":"","templateName":"STRUCTUREDCONTENT","authorNames":"Matt Rosenberg","templateId":"110","muid":"0b7b5735-51f9-4a2f-9094-4083d1a61270","lastEditingAuthorId":"268","lastEditingUserId":"151378030080892","primaryTaxonomyIds":"4122478|4133358|4133035|4133032","fullUrl":"https://www.thoughtco.com/ring-of-fire-1433460" + location.hash,"experienceType":"single page","entryType":"direct","excludeFromComscore":false,"internalSessionId":"n5ea85272a49948509e22a34fa54f092f02","internalRequestId":"n5ea85272a49948509e22a34fa54f092f02","hid":"","experienceTypeName":"","recircDocIdsFooter":"","euTrafficFlag":false,"isGoogleBot":false,"mantleVersion":"4.0.860","commerceVersion":"","primaryTaxonomyNames":"ThoughtCo|Humanities|Geography|Physical Geography"}; } }()); (function(Mntl) { Mntl.Tooltip.init({ defaultPositionX: "auto", defaultPositionY: "auto" }); })(window.Mntl || {}); (function(Mntl) { Mntl.Tooltip.init({ defaultPositionX: "auto", defaultPositionY: "auto" }); })(window.Mntl || {}); (function(utils) { utils.readyOrDeferred(() => { const masonryInstance = document.getElementById('mntl-masonry-tax-card-list_1-0'); if (masonryInstance.dataset.noJs) return; Mntl.MasonryList.init(masonryInstance, {autoResize: false, stretch: '.card__img, .card--no-image .card__content'}); }); })(window.Mntl.utilities || {});(function(utils) { utils.readyOrDeferred(() => { const masonryInstance = document.getElementById('mntl-masonry-tax-card-list_2-0'); if (masonryInstance.dataset.noJs) return; Mntl.MasonryList.init(masonryInstance, {autoResize: false, stretch: '.card__img, .card--no-image .card__content'}); }); })(window.Mntl.utilities || {});}); </script></body> </html>