Micronesia
What tectonic plate is Palau on?
Palau sits entirely on the Philippine Sea Plate.
- Plates
- 1
- M6.5+ quakes since 1900
- 2
- Holocene volcanoes
- 0
- Land area
- 341 km²
Plates under Palau
Share of Palau's land area on each plate (PB2002 model, Natural Earth outlines).
Plate boundaries
2 plate boundaries run through or along Palau: the Philippine Sea-Caroline boundary (divergent, about 0.4 cm/yr) and the Philippine Sea-Sunda boundary (convergent, about 10.0 cm/yr).
- Philippine Sea and Caroline: divergent, 0.4 cm/yr
- Philippine Sea and Sunda: convergent, 10.0 cm/yr
The fastest of these is the Philippine Sea-Sunda boundary, where the plates move about 10.0 cm/yr relative to each other. That is faster than fingernails grow.
Earthquakes in Palau
Large earthquakes are uncommon in Palau. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 2 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country.
| Earthquake | Magnitude | Year | Depth | Plate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 245 km E of Melekeok Village, Palau | M7.6 | 1912 | 15 km | Caroline |
| Palau region | M6.9 | 1935 | 15 km | Caroline |
Volcanoes in Palau
Palau 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 Palau on?
Palau sits entirely on the Philippine Sea Plate.
Is Palau on a plate boundary?
2 plate boundaries run through or along Palau: the Philippine Sea-Caroline boundary (divergent, about 0.4 cm/yr) and the Philippine Sea-Sunda boundary (convergent, about 10.0 cm/yr).
Does Palau get earthquakes?
Large earthquakes are uncommon in Palau. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 2 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country. The largest was the M7.6 245 km E of Melekeok Village, Palau in 1912.
Are there volcanoes in Palau?
Palau has no volcanoes that have erupted in the last 12,000 years, according to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program.