Earthquakes release tension in the earth’s crust, which builds up as a result of the movement of tectonic plates. Earthquakes are particularly common along the edges of plates where deformation rates (shifts) are highest. In Japan, for example, this area is where the Pacific Plate slips underneath the Eurasian Plate (subducts), and in California it is the boundary between the North American and Pacific Plates. Earthquakes occur less frequently in more stable areas with less deformation, such as Switzerland. Although earthquakes are rare in areas with lower deformation rates, earthquakes with a magnitude great enough to cause damage can still occur.