Southern Africa
What tectonic plate is South Africa on?
South Africa spans 2 tectonic plates: the African Plate (71%) and the Somali Plate (29%), plus slivers of the Antarctic Plate.
- Plates
- 3
- M6.5+ quakes since 1900
- 1
- Holocene volcanoes
- 2
- Land area
- 1.22 million km²
Plates under South Africa
Share of South Africa's land area on each plate (PB2002 model, Natural Earth outlines).
Plate boundaries
3 plate boundaries run through or along South Africa: the African-Antarctic boundary (transform, about 1.4 cm/yr), the Somali-Antarctic boundary (divergent, about 1.2 cm/yr) and the Somali-African boundary (divergent, about 0.3 cm/yr).
Earthquakes in South Africa
Large earthquakes are uncommon in South Africa. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 1 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country.
| Earthquake | Magnitude | Year | Depth | Plate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120 km ESE of Richards Bay, South Africa | M6.8 | 1932 | 15 km | Somali |
Volcanoes in South Africa
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 2 volcanoes active in the last 12,000 years in South Africa.
- Marion Island Shield(s) · 1,230 m Last eruption 2004
- Prince Edward Island Shield · 672 m Last eruption Unknown
Frequently asked questions
What tectonic plate is South Africa on?
South Africa spans 2 tectonic plates: the African Plate (71%) and the Somali Plate (29%), plus slivers of the Antarctic Plate.
Is South Africa on a plate boundary?
3 plate boundaries run through or along South Africa: the African-Antarctic boundary (transform, about 1.4 cm/yr), the Somali-Antarctic boundary (divergent, about 1.2 cm/yr) and the Somali-African boundary (divergent, about 0.3 cm/yr).
Does South Africa get earthquakes?
Large earthquakes are uncommon in South Africa. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 1 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country. The largest was the M6.8 120 km ESE of Richards Bay, South Africa in 1932.
Are there volcanoes in South Africa?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 2 volcanoes active in the last 12,000 years in South Africa.