|
Why are there volcanoes in Hawaii?
The story of plate tectonics is a fascinating story of continents drifting majestically from place to place breaking apart, colliding, and grinding against each other. It is a story of terrestrial mountain ranges rising up like rumples in rugs being pushed together; of oceans opening and closing; of undersea mountain chains girdling the planet like seams on a baseball; of violent earthquakes and fiery volcanoes. Plate Tectonic Theory describes the intricate design of a complex, living planet in a state of dynamic flux creating zones of volcanic and earthquake activity. But how come one of the most volcanic places on earth lies nowhere near this plate boundary. Hawaii lies right in the middle of the Pacific Plate, one of the most spectacular volcanic island chains in the world!
|
