The Earth as a Whole

Can you determine the size of plates by numbering them from largest to smallest? Only number the African, Eurasian, Indo-Australian, North American, Pacific, and South American Plates.

The South American Plate

The South American Plate contains convergent boundaries along the western part of the plate. This is why many countries along the western side of South American have mountainous regions along the coat. Divergent boundaries are along the eastern part of the South American plate. There are transform boundaries at the southern part of this plate. This plate contains South American.

What mountain range lays along the western part of the South American continent?

The North American Plate

The North American Plate contains the United States. This plate has all three types of boundaries. Divergent boundaries on the eastern portion, transform boundaries around the southern part and along the Pacific Ocean on the West coast of the U.S.

Can you name any other countries that are on this plate?

 

The Pacific Plate

The Pacific Plate has both convergent and divergent boundaries. This plate also has a transform boundary that lies against the Californian coast. This is why California has so many earthquakes as a result.

This plate has the largest surface area of any of the plates! 

Do you see any major landmasses within this plate? Which of the 50 states would be located in this plate? 

The Indo-Australian Plate

The northern part of the Indo-Australian plate has a convergent boundary, while the southern part of this plate has a divergent plate. There is an eastern portion of the plate that has a transform boundary, two plates that slide past one another.

The Indo-Australian plate and the Eurasian plate are colliding creating the Himalayan Mountains. This mountain range is continuing to expand slowly each year. 

The African Plate

The majority of the boundaries of this plate are divergent, two plates moving apart from one another. There is a convergent boundary on the northeastern part of this plate.

The Eurasian Plate

The southern border of the Eurasian Plate is considered to be a convergent boundary, two plates colliding towards each other. While the western border of this plate has a divergent boundary, two plates that are moving apart from one another.