Final answer:
The three major types of plate boundaries are divergent, where plates move apart, convergent, where plates move towards one another, and transform, where plates slide past each other. They are caused by the forces of plate tectonics, such as mantle convection. These boundaries can be found at locations including the mid-ocean ridges, mountain ranges like the Himalayas, and faults like the San Andreas Fault.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 3 Major Plate Boundaries
The three major types of plate boundaries are:
- Divergent Boundaries: These are found where tectonic plates move apart from each other. They are most commonly located along the mid-ocean ridges, such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, but can also be found on land like the East African Rift. Divergent boundaries lead to the formation of new crust as magma rises up to fill the gap and cools.
- Convergent Boundaries: These boundaries are locations where two plates are moving towards each other. They can lead to the formation of mountain ranges, like the Himalayas, or subduction zones where one plate goes under another, leading to deep ocean trenches like the Mariana Trench. Volcanic activity is common near convergent boundaries.
- Transform Boundaries: These are locations where plates slide past each other horizontally. The most famous example is the San Andreas Fault in California. These boundaries are known for their earthquake activity.
These plate boundaries are produced by the forces driving plate tectonics, primarily caused by the heat and movement in the Earth's mantle. Convective currents, slab pull, and ridge push are some of the processes involved in moving the plates.
On the west coast of North America, from the Gulf of California northward to British Columbia, Canada, the plate boundaries include the divergent boundary along the Gulf of California, the transform boundary along the San Andreas Fault, and the convergent boundary where the Juan de Fuca Plate is subducting beneath the North American Plate.
This convergence is responsible for the formation of the Cascade Range and the volcanic activity therein. As for the Juan de Fuca Plate, it is being progressively subducted under the North American Plate and will likely eventually be completely consumed.