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HastilyMadeAlt t1_ixkz81e wrote

Reply to comment by CrustalTrudger in Why are there so many active volcanoes in south/central America, but all the the ones in North America are all quiet? (Mainland North America) by ClassicDry2232

Awesome analysis and answer, but isn't Hawaii firmly situated on the pacific plate? I don't think it's considered part of North America

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CrustalTrudger t1_ixlfxhp wrote

North America geographically is not the same as North America tectonically. Hawaii is on the Pacific plate, but as part of the US, geographically it is often considered as part of North America (though definitions vary). Similarly, the North American Plate contains portions of Russia (which geographically tends to not be considered part of North America), but does not contain the Caribbean (which does tend to be considered part of North America geographically). In my answer, I assumed OP was using the term North America in a geographic context.

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