Martinique is located on the 800 kilometre long Lesser Antilles arc. This arc is a product of the subduction of the North Atlantic ocean floor beneath the Caribbean plate. At the present time, the rate of convergence is approximately 2 centimetres per year. The volcanic arc consists of three well defined segments which may be related to kinks in the underlying subducted slab. A major break related to one of these kinks exists between Martinique and St. Lucia. Martinique is one of several islands that have been collectively called the Volcanic Caribbees.