The Mediterranean Volcanic Belt forms part of the larger Alpine-Himalayan system, driven by the collision of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. As the African Plate moves north, it subducts beneath the Eurasian Plate, leading to intense volcanic activity in the Mediterranean basin. This subduction produces silica-rich, explosive magma. Unlike the Himalayan section, which is a continent-to-continent collision with little volcanism, the Mediterranean section involves oceanic crust subduction, which creates active volcanic arcs. This belt is historically significant, influencing the geography, culture and soil fertility of Southern Europe and the Middle East for millennia.