Describe the distribution of volcanoes.

Volcanoes generally occur in the weaker zone of the earth crust and are characterized by young fold mountains. The following are the three belts of volcanic eruptions:

1. The Circum-Pacific Belt (Ring of Fire) — It extends through the Andes of South America, Central America, Mexico, the mountains of western U.S.A, the Aleutian Islands, Kamchatka, the Kurile Islands, Sakhalin, Japan, Philippines, Celebes, New guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Caladonia and New Zealand.
2. Mid-Atlantic— This belt includes the volcanoes of Mid-Atlantic ridge. It also includes the volcanoes of Lesser Antilles, Southern Antilles, Azores, St. Helena, etc.
3. Mid-Continental— This belt includes the Volcanoes of Alps Mountains, Mediterranean Sea (Stromboli, Vesuvius, Etna, etc.) and volcanoes of Aegean Sea, Mt. Ararat (Turkey), Elbrus, Hindukush and the Himalayas.