Here's why:
* Subduction: When one tectonic plate (the denser one) slides beneath another, it gets pulled down into the Earth's mantle. This process creates a zone of intense pressure and heat.
* Plate Interaction: As the descending plate goes deeper, it encounters increasing pressure and temperature. The rocks in the plate start to deform and eventually reach a point where they can't hold the stress.
* Earthquake Trigger: This stress causes the rocks to rupture, creating an earthquake. Deep earthquakes occur at depths between 70 km and 700 km (43 miles to 435 miles).
To summarize:
* Location: Deep earthquakes are almost exclusively found in subduction zones.
* Depth: They occur at significant depths, usually between 70 and 700 km.
* Cause: The stress and pressure created by the descending plate in a subduction zone trigger the earthquakes.
