Plate Boundary Interactions

A convergent boundary is where two tectonic plates push together, or converge.

Sometimes one plate will move under the other. This is called subduction.

Although the movement is slow, convergent boundaries can be areas of geological activity such as the forming of mountains and volcanoes.

They can also be areas of high earthquake activity.

A divergent boundary is one where two plates are getting pushed apart, or diverge.

The area on land where the boundary occurs is called a rift or a mid-ocean ridge. New land is formed by magma pushing up from the mantle and cooling as it reaches the surface.

A transform boundary is one where two plates slide past each other.

These places are often called faults and can be areas where earthquakes often occur.