7.6 earthquake struck near Tonga in South Pacific Ocean.
Tonga (Capital: Nukuʻalofa)
Political Features
- Location: Southwestern Pacific Ocean, situated on Pacific Ring of Fire.
- Ring of Fire is a string of volcanoes and sites of seismic activity, or earthquakes, around edges of Pacific Ocean.
- Roughly 90% of all earthquakes occur here, and Ring is dotted with 75% of all active volcanoes.
- Surrounds several tectonic plates—including Pacific Plate and smaller Philippine, Juan de Fuca, Cocos, and Nazca plates.
- Island Groups: Consists of some 170 islands divided into three main island groups: Tongatapu, Ha‘apai, and Vava‘u.
- Isolated islands include Niuafo‘ou, Niuatoputapu, and Tafahi in North and ‘Ata in South.
Geographical Features
- Highest Point: On Kao Island in Ha‘apai Group.
- There are no rivers in Tonga.
