The Geographical Characteristics of Circum-pacific belt: 1. T | Mains

The Geographical Characteristics of Circum-pacific belt:

1. The belt is characterized by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. About 3/4th of the volcanoes are located in circum-pacific belt.

Example: Mt. Krakota, Mt saint helens etc.

2. The circum-pacific belt surrounds several tectonic plates like Nazca plates, pacific plates, Cocos etc. Many of these plates are subducting plates under the continental plates they border.

3. There are many island chains in this belt including island arcs such as tonga, the Indonesian archipelago, Japan, Alleutian islands etc.

4. There are a series of deep ocean trenches in the circum-pacific belt.

Example: Mariana Trench, Japan trench.

5. Around 90% of the earthquakes occur in these regions as this belt is the epicentre of many earthquakes that occur due to tectonic movement.

6. More than 75% of the volcanoes (more than 450) are located along this belt therefore, it is known as the ring of fire.

Thus, the circum-pacific belt is home to many geographical features like earthquakes, volcanoes, trenches, tectonic plate boundaries etc.