Volcanoes are formed through a series of geological processes primarily driven by the movement of tectonic plates and the activity within the Earth's mantle. Here is an overview of how volcanoes are formed:1. Tectonic Plate BoundariesVolcanoes are commonly found at tectonic plate boundaries, where plates are either converging (coming together), diverging (moving apart), or transforming (sliding past each other). a. Convergent Boundaries:Subduction Zones: At convergent boundaries, an oceanic plate often subducts (slides under) a continental plate or another oceanic plate due to density differences. As the subducting plate sinks into the mantle, it melts due to the high temperatures and pressures, forming magma. This magma rises through the overlying crust to create a volcano.Example: The Ring of Fire around the Pacific Ocean, including the Andes Mountains and the Cascade Range.b. Divergent Boundaries:Mid-Ocean Ridges and Rift Valleys: At divergent boundaries, tectonic plates move apart, allowing magma from the mantle to rise and fill the gap, creating new crust as it cools. This process can create underwater volcanoes (mid-ocean ridges) and volcanic activity on land (rift valleys).Example: The Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the East African Rift.c. Hotspots:Mantle Plumes: Hotspots are areas where plumes of hot mantle material rise towards the surface away from plate boundaries. The heat melts the crust above, forming magma that can break through to create a volcano.Example: The Hawaiian Islands and Yellowstone National Park.