There are three main types of tectonic plate boundaries: divergent boundaries, convergent boundaries, and transform boundaries. Divergent boundaries occur when plates move apart, like at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Convergent boundaries happen when plates push together, such as where the Eurasian and Indian plates meet to form the Himalayas. Transform boundaries form when plates slide past each other, exemplified by the Alpine Fault between the Pacific and Indo-Australian plates.

1. Tectonic Plate Boundaries By Drew Lindow

2. Divergent Boundaries A divergent boundary is created when two plates move apart from one another.

3. Mid-Atlantic Ridge The Mid-Atlantic ridge is the most famous divergent plate boundary. The ridge is spreading at a rate of 3.5 cm/year.

4. South West Indian Ocean Ridge The S. W. Indian Ocean Ridge separates the Somalia and African plates from the Antarctic plate. It spreads at a rate of 1.5 cm/year.

5. Convergent Boundaries A convergent boundary is created when two plates push towards each other.

6. Himalayas Continental - Continental The Himalayas were formed by the converging of the Eurasian plate and the Indian plate.

7. The Chile Fault This is a double fault. On the west is an oceanic – continental boundary and east of that is a continental – continental boundary. This is a convergence of the Nazca and S. American plate.

8. Aleutian Trench Oceanic - Continental The Aleutian Trench and the Aleutian Islands were formed by the collision between the northern part of the Pacific plate and the North American plate.

9. Java Trench Oceanic – Continental The Java trench is a convergence of the India plate on the southwest and the Burma and Sunda plates on the northeast.

10. Philippine Plate Oceanic – Oceanic The Philippine plate converges with the Pacific plate to form the Marianas Trench.

11. Caribbean Fault Oceanic – Oceanic The American plates are converging with the Caribbean plate from the east.

12. Transform Boundaries A transform boundary is created when two plates slide past each other. Earthquakes are commonly made when the two plates build up stress and suddenly release it.

13. Alpine Fault The Alpine Fault creates a transform boundary between the Pacific plate and the Indo-Australian plate. The average slip rate is 3 cm/year.

14. Alpine Fault This image shows the Alpine Fault line crossing the souther alps in New Zealand.

15. Divergent Offsetting Many transform faults are found on the ocean floor where they offset diverging plates in a zig-zag like motion. Below is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and some offsetting transform faults.

16. Sources http://www.geography-site.co.uk http://www.scarborough.k12.me.us http://en.wikipedia.org Google Earth