Volcanic Hotspots

A hotspot is a region of high volcanic activity not directly connected to a tectonic plate boundary. It is caused by upwelling of deep mantle plumes. Since their locations within the Earth are relatively "fixed", slow tectonic plate movements over them can create volcanic island chains/undersea ridges. Geologists have identified some 40–50 such hotspots around the globe although the causes of volcanism at some of them is debated. See this site for list and map.

World Heritage Sites connected to 'Volcanic Hotspots':

  • Brazilian Atlantic Islands Fernando de Noronha - Fernando Hotspot; link
  • Galapagos Islands Galapagos Hotspot; link
  • Hawaii Volcanoes Hawaiii Hotspot; link
  • Lord Howe Island Lord Howe Hotspot: "The Lord Howe Rise contains a line of seamounts which formed during the Miozene period when this part of Zealandia existed over the Lord Howe Hotspot"; link
  • Teide National Park Canary Hotspot; link
  • Yellowstone Yellowstone Hotspot; link