Which plate boundary produces the largest earthquakes?

Subduction zones at convergent plate boundaries produce the largest earthquakes on Earth. In these settings, one plate is forced beneath another, allowing enormous stress to build over centuries. When the fault finally ruptures, it can generate megathrust earthquakes of magnitude 9 or greater and can also produce tsunamis. Famous examples include the 1960 Valdivia earthquake in Chile at magnitude 9.5 and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake in Japan at magnitude 9.0. These boundaries are among the most dangerous geologic settings on the planet.