The Pacific Rim and Ring of Fire

Pacific Ring of Fire

Things that Go Bump in the Night! The Ring of Fire is an area of frequent seismic (volcanic) activity circling the Pacific Ocean.

Tectonic Plates This wildly active area is the result of tectonic plate activity and the movement and collision of these crustal plates on the earth’s surface. It is an approximately 25,000 mile horseshoe shape of a nearly continuous series of ocean trenches and volcanic belts of activity. The Ring of Fire has 452 volcanoes and is home to over 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes. Ninety percent of the world's earthquakes and 80% of the world's largest earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire.

Cities of the Pacific Rim The Pacific Rim refers to the countries and cities located around the edge of the Pacific Ocean where there are powerful economic centers. There are many economic centers around the Pacific Rim, such as Pusan, South Korea; Aukland, New Zealand; Brisbane Melbourne, and Sydney, Australia; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Hong Kong and Shanghai, China; Lima, Peru; Panama City, Panama; Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, California; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington; Vancouver, Canada; Manila, Philippines; Santiago, Chile; Seoul, South Korea; Singapore; Taipei, Taiwan; Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan; and Honolulu, Hawaii. Honolulu is the headquarters of various intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations of the Pacific Rim. In addition, the RIMPAC exercise, for common protection of the area, is coordinated by United States Pacific Command, which is headquartered in Honolulu.

Aukland, North Island New Zealand

Melbourne, Australia

Sydney Opera House Sydney, Australia

Singapore One of the four city-states in the world with the fifth highest standard of living of the world’s countries

What is a City-State? A city state is both a city and a sovereign country. An area that is sovereign has the right to rule itself and is controlled by no other area. In other words, it has the complete and supreme law-making authority. Singapore is an island city-state that lies at the tip of the Malay peninsula. It is the second most densely-populated sovereign nation in the world.

Both a City and a State Singapore places emphasis on self-sufficiency in basic needs, like water. The government also stockpiles other key resources, such as sand and oil. In this way, Singapore tries to avoid overdependence economically, politically or militarily on larger states. As such, Singapore may represent the most complete contemporary example of a city-state, meeting the full definitions of both a city and a fully sovereign state.

Singular Singapore Founded as a British trading company in 1819 Parliamentary republic with universal suffrage Highly-developed free- market economy PCGDP - $52,900!!! One of the world’s busiest trade centers: LOCATION!!!

The Other City-States? Monaco – most densely populated sovereign nation Singapore – 2nd most densely populated sovereign nation San Marino – founded in the year AD 301, it is the oldest constitutional republic in the world Vatican City – the Pope’s Place, fully encircled by the city of Rome

Ho Chi Minh City, Formerly Saigon, Vietnam

Manila, Philippines North Pacific archipelago

Taipei, Taiwan North Pacific

Hong Kong, China Hong Kong is one of the two special administrative regions, having been returned to China in 1997 from the British. It is not considered part of mainland China under the “one country, two systems" policy. Hong Kong has a high degree of autonomy, is largely self-governing, and maintains a highly capitalist economy.

Shanghai, China

Pusan, South Korea

Seoul, South Korea

Tokyo, Japan

Yokohama, Japan

Vancouver, Canada North America

Seattle, Washington USA

Portland, Oregon USA

San Francisco, California USA

Los Angeles, California USA North America

San Diego, California USA

Panama City, Republic of Panama Central America

Lima, Peru South America

Santiago, Chile, South America

Honolulu, Hawaii North Pacific archipelago

Quick Check!!! What is the Ring of Fire and where is it located? Name 5 powerful cities in the Pacific Rim and the countries of which they are a part. Why are these cities important? Which one is a sovereign city-state? Define the term “sovereign.” Which of the cities has a free market economy within a communist country? Can you name anything that all these cities have in common?