Types of plate boundaries in the Earth's crust

• Hot springs and geysers: Hot springs and geysers are formed by the heat from magma that is close to the surface at divergent plate boundaries. Yellowstone National Park in the United States is known for its hot springs and geysers.

Convergent plate boundaries are where two plates collide with each other. One plate may slide under the other, a process known as subduction. The other plate may be pushed up, forming mountains. Examples of geological features associated with convergent plate boundaries include:

• Ocean trenches: Ocean trenches are deep, underwater valleys that form where one plate subducts under another. The Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean is the deepest ocean trench in the world.
• Mountain ranges: Mountain ranges, such as the Andes Mountains in South America and the Himalayas in Asia, are formed when plates collide and one plate is pushed up.
• Volcanoes: Volcanoes are formed where magma rises to the surface and erupts. Volcanoes are often found at convergent plate boundaries, where magma is melted by the heat of the subducting plate.

Transform plate boundaries are where two plates slide past each other horizontally. Examples of geological features associated with transform plate boundaries include:

• Fault lines: Fault lines are cracks in the Earth's crust where plates slide past each other. The San Andreas Fault in California is a well-known example of a transform fault line.
• Earthquakes: Earthquakes are caused by the sudden release of energy when plates slip past each other at transform fault lines.

The three main types of plate boundaries play an important role in shaping the Earth's surface and creating many of the geological features that we see today.

The three main types of plate boundaries in the Earth's crust are divergent, convergent, and transform.

Divergent plate boundaries are where two plates move away from each other. New crust is created at divergent plate boundaries as magma rises from the Earth's mantle and cools and solidifies. Examples of geological features associated with divergent plate boundaries include:

• Mid-ocean ridges: Mid-ocean ridges are long, underwater mountain ranges that mark the sites of divergent plate boundaries. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is the longest mid-ocean ridge in the world and runs down the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
• Rift valleys: Rift valleys are valleys that form when two plates begin to diverge. The East African Rift Valley is a good example of a rift valley.