South America
What tectonic plate is the Falkland Islands on?
The Falkland Islands sits entirely on the South American Plate.
- Plates
- 1
- M6.5+ quakes since 1900
- 2
- Holocene volcanoes
- 0
- Land area
- 11,386 km²
Plates under the Falkland Islands
Share of the Falkland Islands's land area on each plate (PB2002 model, Natural Earth outlines).
Plate boundaries
A plate boundary runs through or along the Falkland Islands: the Scotia-South American boundary (transform, about 0.5 cm/yr).
- Scotia and South American: transform, 0.5 cm/yr
Earthquakes in the Falkland Islands
Large earthquakes are uncommon in the Falkland Islands. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 2 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country.
| Earthquake | Magnitude | Year | Depth | Plate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falkland Islands region | M7.4 | 1908 | 10 km | Scotia |
| Falkland Islands region | M7.0 | 2013 | 12 km | Scotia |
Volcanoes in the Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands has no volcanoes that have erupted in the last 12,000 years, according to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program.
Frequently asked questions
What tectonic plate is the Falkland Islands on?
The Falkland Islands sits entirely on the South American Plate.
Is the Falkland Islands on a plate boundary?
A plate boundary runs through or along the Falkland Islands: the Scotia-South American boundary (transform, about 0.5 cm/yr).
Does the Falkland Islands get earthquakes?
Large earthquakes are uncommon in the Falkland Islands. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 2 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country. The largest was the M7.4 Falkland Islands region in 1908.
Are there volcanoes in the Falkland Islands?
The Falkland Islands has no volcanoes that have erupted in the last 12,000 years, according to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program.