The distribution of mountain ranges is closely related to the distribution of earthquake epicenters and volcanoes because all three are primarily controlled by tectonic plate boundaries and interactions. Mountain ranges mostly form at convergent plate boundaries where two tectonic plates collide, causing the uplift of land. These zones of collision are also sites of frequent earthquakes due to the intense stress and friction between the plates. Additionally, volcanoes commonly occur along these convergent boundaries where one plate is subducted beneath another, leading to magma generation and volcanic eruptions. Volcanoes can also be found at divergent boundaries where plates move apart. Thus, mountain ranges, earthquake epicenters, and volcanoes tend to cluster near plate boundaries, reflecting the dynamic geological activity of Earth's lithosphere. For example, major mountain belts like the Himalayas correspond with high earthquake activity and volcanoes are often found around the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is a zone of plate subduction and mountain building. In summary, the relationship is that the distributions of these features coincide because they all result from tectonic plate interactions like collision, subduction, and spreading, which create mountains, earthquakes, and volcanoes in closely related patterns around the globe.