Story: Sea floor geology

Pacific Ring of Fire

This map shows the tectonically active shores of the Pacific Ocean, where many of the earth’s volcanoes occur. It is known as the Pacific Ring of Fire due to the volcanic activity (and earthquakes) associated with the earth’s plate boundaries. The map also shows the major mid-ocean ridge in the Pacific where rocks form on the sea floor and are slowly moved towards plate boundaries at the ocean edges.

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Source: NIWA – National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research and NGDC/NOAA - National Geophysical Data Centre, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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How to cite this page:

Keith Lewis, Scott D. Nodder and Lionel Carter, 'Sea floor geology - Zealandia: the New Zealand continent', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/interactive/5581/pacific-ring-of-fire (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Keith Lewis, Scott D. Nodder and Lionel Carter, published 12 Jun 2006