They are situated mainly along plate boundaries and specific geographic regions:
- Many are located in the western parts of North and South America, particularly along the Pacific coast
- Over 75% are found around the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur
- They are also found along constructive (divergent) plate boundaries such as the mid-Atlantic ridge, where plates move apart, and at hot spots in the Earth's surface
- Specific examples include the west coast of the Americas, parts of Northern India, Australia, and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean
In summary, their locations are closely tied to tectonic plate boundaries-both destructive (subducting) and constructive-as well as volcanic hot spots around the globe
