Volcanoes,
Earthquakes, and
Mountain Ranges
•Volcanoes are associated with the belt throughout
its length; for this reason it is called the “Ring of
Fire.” A series of deep ocean troughs frame the
belt on the oceanic side, and continental
landmasses lie behind. The Ring of Fire isn't quite
a circular ring. It is shaped more like a 40,000kilometer (25,000-mile) horseshoe. A string of 452
volcanoes stretches from the southern tip of
South America, up along the coast of North
America, across the Bering Strait, down through
Japan, and into New Zealand.
•Where is the Ring of Fire Located?
The Ring of Fire is over 25,000
miles (40,000 km) long and
runs from New Zealand through
Japan, across the Bering Strait,
along the west coast of North
America, and down to the
southern tip of South America.