Volcanoes

The world's active volcanoes are usually found above sea level in a geographic belt known as the Ring of Fire. This belt marks the boundary between the Pacific Plate and the surrounding plates. It follows the west coast of the Americas, from Chile to Alaska. It passes through the following areas: the Andes Mountains, Central America, Mexico, California, the Cascade Range, Canada, and the Aleutian Islands. From the east coast, it runs through the Kurile Islands, Japan, Philippines, Celebes Sea, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia.