Final answer:
At convergent boundaries, subduction occurs, leading to mountain formation, earthquakes, and volcanic activity. Ocean trenches and volcanic arcs are also indicative of these regions. The Ural Mountains and Japan trench serve as key examples of such geological features.
Step-by-step explanation:
At convergent boundaries where two tectonic plates collide, several geological events can occur. One significant process is subduction, where one plate descends beneath another into Earth's mantle. This leads to various phenomena such as the creation of ocean trenches, mountain formation, earthquakes, and volcanic activity. For example, the collision of continental plates has formed mountain belts such as the Ural Mountains and the Appalachian/Caledonide Mountains. On the other hand, the subduction of oceanic crust under continental crust results in the creation of volcanic arcs and deep ocean trenches like the Japan trench.
Specifically, subduction zones are areas where the oceanic plate, being denser and thinner, is forced beneath the continental plate into the upper mantle. This results in the recycling of the Earth's crust as the subducted material melts and joins the mantle's convection currents. The topography in regions around convergent boundaries often reflects these processes, with elevated mountain ranges and subduction-related trenches being key indicators of past and present tectonic activity.