Which chain of volcanic islands are far removed from a plate boundary?Group of answer choicesPhilippinesIcelandHawaiiIndonesia

Identify the Options

1. Philippines - Located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.
2. Iceland - Situated on a divergent boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, with abundant volcanic activity.
3. Hawaii - Positioned in the central Pacific Ocean, far from any tectonic plate boundaries. The Hawaiian Islands are formed by a hotspot in the mantle.
4. Indonesia - Also located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where numerous tectonic plate boundaries converge, leading to frequent volcanic activity.

Analysis

1. Volcanic Islands: Typically formed by tectonic activity. Hotspots, such as the one under Hawaii, can exist far from plate boundaries, while most other volcanic islands are created by interactions at plate boundaries.
2. Hawaii's Uniqueness: The Hawaiian Islands are a classic example of hotspot volcanism, where magma from deep within the Earth creates islands as tectonic plates move over a stationary hotspot.

Conclusion

Based on the analysis, the volcanic islands that are far removed from a plate boundary are Hawaii. These islands were formed due to volcanic activity from a hotspot rather than tectonic plate interactions.