Why do volcanoes form near tectonic plate boundaries?

Volcanoes often form near tectonic plate boundaries because of the movement and interaction of plates. At divergent boundaries, plates move apart, allowing magma to rise and create volcanic activity, as seen in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. At convergent boundaries, one plate subducts under another, melting the mantle and producing magma that rises to the surface. This process is responsible for the volcanic arcs in the Pacific Ring of Fire. Some volcanoes also form over “hot spots,” where plumes of magma rise through the mantle, such as those creating the Hawaiian Islands.