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Tectonic Hotspots

WorldPhysical Environment

Locations of tectonic hotspots—areas in the mantle where heat rises as a thermal plume from deep in the Earth.

Smithsonian Institution

A world map shows tectonic hotspots around the globe, marked with red dots. High concentrations of hotspots are found along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Pacific Ring of Fire. Areas with fewer hotspots include Europe, Asia, and Australia.

In North America, prominent hotspots are concentrated along the western United States, including the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, extending into Alaska. Additional hotspots are found in the Gulf of California, and in Central America, especially in Mexico and Guatemala. The Atlantic Ocean features multiple hotspots, notably near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Africa's hotspots are primarily situated along the East African Rift, particularly in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania, with others scattered across the continent, including Nigeria and Algeria. The Indian Ocean hosts several hotspots, especially near Madagascar and the Seychelles. In Europe, hotspots are visible in Iceland, France, and Spain. Asia's tectonic activity is concentrated in Vietnam and Cambodia. The western part of the Arabian Peninsula, particularly Saudi Arabia, also shows considerable tectonic activity. The regions of Mongolia and Japan show numerous tectonic hotspots. The map also shows hotspots in the South Pacific Ocean, near New Zealand and various island nations.

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Tectonic Hotspots

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Tectonic Hotspots

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Alaska
199.9%
Arizona
1100%
Utah
1100%
Yukon
1100%
Northwest Territories
99.9%
District of Columbia
100%
Florida
99.8%
Idaho
1100%
New Hampshire
100%
Rhode Island
99.3%
Vermont
99.7%0.257%
Washington
99.9%
Wyoming
1100%
Nunavut
99.7%
Montana
100%
Maine
99.8%
North Dakota
100%
Kentucky
100%
Nova Scotia
99.5%
Virginia
99.9%
Delaware
99.2%
Prince Edward Island
98.5%
Saskatchewan
100%
Mississippi
100%
West Virginia
100%
Nebraska
100%
Texas
99.9%
Missouri
100%
Louisiana
99.9%
Hawaii
14.35%2.55%92.1%
North Carolina
99.9%
Oregon
1100%
New Brunswick
99.8%
Alabama
100%
New Mexico
1100%
Kansas
100%
Wisconsin
100%
British Columbia
12.52%97.4%
Newfoundland and Labrador
99.7%
New Jersey
99.8%
South Carolina
99.9%
Michigan
100%
Alberta
100%
Connecticut
99.9%
Pennsylvania
100%
Colorado
1100%
Nevada
100%
Massachusetts
0.206%99.5%
Georgia
100%
New York
100%
Maryland
99.3%
Québec
99.9%
Manitoba
100%
Oklahoma
100%
Tennessee
100%
Ontario
100%
California
99.9%
Arkansas
100%
South Dakota
100%
Ohio
100%
Indiana
100%
Minnesota
100%
Iowa
100%
Illinois
100%
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