Plate Tectonics

Plate tectonics is another phenomenon that has had great influence on the shape of the earth’s surface. Plate tectonics occur in two folds; Spreading which occurs when two plates separate from each other and a new crust is formed by magma underneath and Subduction which occurs when two plates collide and the edge of one goes under that of the other and ends up as part of the mantle.

There are at present eight (8) major plates;

North American Plate

This covers North America, Western North Atlantic and Greenland

Southern American Plate

This covers South America and Western South Atlantic

Antarctic Plate

This covers Antarctica and the Southern Ocean

Eurasian Plate

This covers Eastern North Atlantic, Europe and Asia except for India

African Plate

This covers Africa, Eastern South Atlantic and Western Indian Ocean

Indian-Australian Plate

This covers India, Australia, New Zealand and most of Indian Ocean

Nazca Plate

This covers Eastern Pacific Ocean adjacent to South America

Pacific Plate

This covers most of the Pacific Ocean and the Southern Coast of California