Where do earthquakes occur most often??
Although it's possible for earthquakes to occur in any area of the world, seismologists have concluded that most quakes are seen and felt in three specific areas:
Pacific Seismic Belt: This area is found around the outer edges of the Pacific ocean. Nearly 80-percent of all large quakes occur in this region. The Pacific seismic belt measures from Chili to South America to the western region of the United States, including the southern tip of Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, Japan, New Guinea and New Zealand.
Alpide: The Himalayas, Mediterranean and the Atlantic make up the Alpide belt region. Approximately 18-percent of all earthquakes occur in this area.
Mid - Atlantic Ridge: The mid-atlantic ridge is the third most likely area where quakes occur, and covers the region of from the north-south axis of the Atlantic to the Arctic Ocean to the southern-most tip of Africa.
In the United States, Alaska and California see more earthquakes each year than any other State. Florida and North Dakota are rarely affected by quakes.