Hot Zone
The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped belt around the Pacific Ocean. It is about 25,000 miles long. It is home to three-quarters of the world’s active volcanoes.
Some of the most famous volcanoes are in the Ring of Fire. One of them is Mount Mayon. It is the most active volcano in the Philippines. It is also known for having a nearly perfect cone shape.
The Ring of Fire lies near several tectonic plates. Tectonic plates are large pieces of the Earth’s crust. They are like giant puzzle pieces. The plates are always moving. They change position. They pull apart and slide together. They can shift above or below each other. This movement can lead to earthquakes. It can also lead to volcanic eruptions. Most volcanoes are formed along the edges of tectonic plates. When the plates move, they create space. Magma then shoots up to fill that space. When there is enough magma, the volcano erupts!
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