The tiny Juan de Fuca plate is largely responsible for the volcanoes that dot the Pacific ... out in volcanic eruptions such as those that formed some of the mountains in the Andes of South ...

Image caption, This is lava running from a shield volcano - a volcano formed where the tectonic plates move away from each other. Shield volcanoes on the other hand form at constructive tectonic ...

Volcanoes are usually found along the boundaries of tectonic plates. Constructive plate boundaries are where tectonic plates are moving apart, and magma here can gradually rise and form new crust ...

The graphic below shows how the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates causes volcanoes to be formed, and what triggers a volcanic eruption.

The process subsequently formed the Atlantic Ocean, while the ancient Tethys Ocean transitioned into the existing Mediterranean Sea. The tectonic plates are continually moving and may form an ...

The Ring of Fire is home to 75% of the world's volcanoes and 90% of its earthquakes ... the Ring of Fire traces the meeting points of many tectonic plates, including the Eurasian, North American ...