GEOLOGY

Japan is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is a horseshoe shaped band of volcanoes and fault lines that circle the edges of the Pacific Ocean. Inside this ring is where almost 90% of the earth’s active volcanoes are located. 10% of the world’s active volcanoes are found in Japan. Japan has up to 1 500 big earthquakes a year. Small minor ones can be felt in some areas many times a day. One of the worst earthquakes was in 1923 and it killed 130 000 people. It was called The Great Kanto Earthquake. Undersea earthquakes put Japan in danger from tsunamis and tidal waves. A major part of the tourist an d leisure industry are the many, many hot springs found in Japan.