Southern Europe
What tectonic plate is Spain on?
Spain spans 2 tectonic plates: the Eurasian Plate (99%) and the African Plate (1.4%).
- Plates
- 2
- M6.5+ quakes since 1900
- 1
- Holocene volcanoes
- 8
- Land area
- 506,174 km²
Plates under Spain
Share of Spain's land area on each plate (PB2002 model, Natural Earth outlines).
Plate boundaries
A plate boundary runs through or along Spain: the Eurasian-African boundary (convergent, about 0.6 cm/yr).
Earthquakes in Spain
Large earthquakes are uncommon in Spain. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 1 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country.
| Earthquake | Magnitude | Year | Depth | Plate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strait of Gibraltar | M7.8 | 1954 | 626 km | Eurasian |
Volcanoes in Spain
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 8 volcanoes active in the last 12,000 years in Spain.
- La Palma Stratovolcano(es) · 2,426 m Last eruption 2021
- Hierro Shield · 1,500 m Last eruption 2012
- Tenerife Stratovolcano · 3,715 m Last eruption 1909
- Lanzarote Fissure vent(s) · 670 m Last eruption 1824
- Gran Canaria Fissure vent(s) · 1,950 m Last eruption 40
- Calatrava Volcanic Field Volcanic field · 1,117 m Last eruption 3600 BCE
- Olot Volcanic Field Volcanic field · 893 m Last eruption Unknown
- Fuerteventura Fissure vent(s) · 529 m Last eruption Unknown
Frequently asked questions
What tectonic plate is Spain on?
Spain spans 2 tectonic plates: the Eurasian Plate (99%) and the African Plate (1.4%).
Is Spain on a plate boundary?
A plate boundary runs through or along Spain: the Eurasian-African boundary (convergent, about 0.6 cm/yr).
Does Spain get earthquakes?
Large earthquakes are uncommon in Spain. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 1 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country. The largest was the M7.8 Strait of Gibraltar in 1954.
Are there volcanoes in Spain?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 8 volcanoes active in the last 12,000 years in Spain.