The border between two tectonic plates is called a boundary.
These boundaries are dynamic zones where the Earth's rigid outer shell, composed of large tectonic plates, interacts with neighboring plates. These interactions are responsible for many of the planet's most dramatic geological features, such as mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
Types of Plate Boundaries
According to the provided information, the border between two tectonic plates is called a boundary. Furthermore, there are three main types of boundaries: convergent, divergent or transform. The specific type of boundary depends on how the plates are moving relative to each other.
Here's a breakdown of the three main types:
| Boundary Type | Plate Movement | Common Geological Features | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Convergent | Moving Towards Each Other | Mountain ranges, volcanic arcs, oceanic trenches, earthquakes | Himalayas, Pacific Ring of Fire, Mariana Trench |
| Divergent | Moving Away From Each Other | Mid-ocean ridges, rift valleys, volcanoes, earthquakes | Mid-Atlantic Ridge, East African Rift |
| Transform | Sliding Past Each Other Horizontally | Fault lines, earthquakes | San Andreas Fault, North Anatolian Fault |
As stated in the reference, convergent boundaries occur when two plates come together. This collision can lead to one plate subducting (sinking) beneath the other, often forming deep oceanic trenches and volcanic mountain ranges or island arcs. If two continental plates collide, neither subducts easily, resulting in the uplift of massive mountain ranges like the Himalayas.
Divergent boundaries, conversely, are where plates pull apart. This often happens at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is created through volcanic activity. On continents, divergence can create rift valleys.
Transform boundaries are where plates slide horizontally past each other. While crust is neither created nor destroyed, this grinding motion generates significant friction and is a major cause of earthquakes.
Understanding these different boundary types is fundamental to comprehending the forces that shape our planet's surface.
