What is the Ring of Fire?

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What is the Ring of Fire?

The Ring of Fire is a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. It is a 40,000-kilometer (25,000-mile) horseshoe-shaped ring that is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, volcanic belts, and plate movements. This region is home to approximately 75% of the world's active volcanoes and is responsible for about 90% of the world's earthquakes, including some of the most powerful and devastating ones in history. The Ring of Fire is a result of the movement and interactions of several tectonic plates, primarily the Pacific Plate, which is subducting beneath other plates along its boundaries, leading to the formation of volcanic activity and seismic events.