<P> The Ring of Fire is a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur . In a 40,000 km (25,000 mi) horseshoe shape, it is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and volcanic belts and plate movements . It has 452 volcanoes (more than 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes). The Ring of Fire is sometimes called the circum - Pacific belt . </P> <P> About 90% of the world's earthquakes and 81% of the world's largest earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire . The next most seismically active region (5--6% of earthquakes and 17% of the world's largest earthquakes) is the Alpide belt, which extends from Java to the northern Atlantic Ocean via the Himalayas and southern Europe . </P> <P> All but three of the world's 25 largest volcanic eruptions of the last 11,700 years occurred at volcanoes in the Ring of Fire . </P>

Why is the pacific ring of fire so significant
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