Around the vast Pacific Ocean runs a 40,000-kilometre, horseshoe-shaped belt of intense geological activity. This is the Ring of Fire, the origin point for over 75 percent of the world’s volcanoes and the location of approximately 90 percent of all earthquakes. It stretches from South America's tip, up the coast of North America, and down through Japan to New Zealand. For centuries, its true nature was a mystery. In 1859, the German geographer Carl Ritter was the first to professionally describe it, calling it a 'Circle of Fire' after observing the line of volcanoes ringing the ocean. But naming the pattern was not the same as understanding it. What incredible force was powerful enough to shape our world on such a scale?
The Ring of Fire
The Pacific Ring of Fire is a 40,000km belt where 90% of earthquakes occur, its mechanism revealed by two giant 1960s quakes.
Chapter 1
The Circle of Fire
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pacific Ring of Fire?
It is a 40,000-kilometre, horseshoe-shaped path around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world's earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. This intense activity is caused by the movement and collision of tectonic plates.
What was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded?
The most powerful earthquake was the 1960 Valdivia earthquake in Chile, which registered a magnitude of 9.5. The shaking lasted for about ten minutes and caused a massive tsunami that crossed the entire Pacific Ocean.
How do megathrust earthquakes work?
Megathrust earthquakes happen at subduction zones, where one tectonic plate slides under another. The plates get stuck, building up immense strain over centuries, and then release it in a sudden snap, causing a giant earthquake and often a tsunami.
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