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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

Black Butte Crater Lava Field

Black Rock Desert

Buzzard Creek

Carrizozo

Craters of the Moon

Diamond Craters

Dotsero

Fort Selkirk

Haleakala

Hell's Half Acre

Hualalai

Imuruk Lake

Ingakslugwat Hills

Jordan Craters

Kilauea

Markagunt Plateau

Mauna Kea

Mauna Loa

Nazko

Red Hill

San Francisco Volcanic Field

St. Michael

St. Paul Island

Uinkaret Field

Wapi Lava Field

Wells Gray-Clearwater

Yellowstone

Zuni-Bandera

Alaska
11111
Arizona
11
Utah
11
Yukon
1
Idaho
1111
Wyoming
1
Hawaii
11111
Oregon
11
New Mexico
111
British Columbia
11
Colorado
1
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