Final answer:
The Alps were formed by the collision between the African and Eurasian continental plates, which is an example of a continent-continent convergent boundary.
Step-by-step explanation:
The formation of the Alps is the direct result of the collision between the African and Eurasian continental plates. This process is a type of mountain building known as orogeny, specifically a continent-continent convergent boundary. When these two massive plates collided, the pressure caused the Earth's crust to buckle and fold, leading to the majestic mountain range we know as the Alps.
Unlike other mountain ranges, such as the Rocky Mountains, which are the result of low-angle subduction, the Alps are a classic example of what occurs at a convergent plate boundary where two continents meet.