How do tectonic plates influence Earth's geographical features?.

Tectonic plates are large slabs of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact at their boundaries, leading to significant geographical changes.

Key Facts

• There are 7 major tectonic plates: Pacific, North American, Eurasian, African, South American, Antarctic, and Indo-Australian.
• The movement of these plates can create mountains, such as the Himalayas, formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates.
• Earthquakes occur at plate boundaries due to sudden movements, with the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake being one of the deadliest in history.
• Volcanic activity often occurs at divergent and convergent boundaries, with notable examples including the Ring of Fire around the Pacific Ocean.

Examples or Use Cases

• The San Andreas Fault in California is a strike-slip fault caused by the movement of the Pacific and North American plates.
• The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example of a divergent boundary where new oceanic crust is formed.

FAQs

What are tectonic plates? Tectonic plates are massive slabs of rock that cover the Earth's surface and move slowly over time. How do tectonic plates cause earthquakes? Earthquakes occur when stress at plate boundaries is released suddenly, causing the ground to shake.