Which one of the following is the type of plate boundary of the Indian plate along the Himalayan mountains?

The correct answer is Continent-continent convergence.

Key Points

• Continent-continent convergence is a type of convergent plate boundary where two continental plates collide.
• The continental lithosphere is low in density and very thick and cannot subduct.
  • So, when two continental plates collide, they smash together.
• This convergence creates some of the world’s largest mountains ranges like:
  • The Himalayan Mountains formed at a convergence plate boundary between the Eurasian Plate and the Indian plate.
  • The Appalachian Mountains etc.

Additional Information

• Oceanic-Oceanic Boundaries:
  • When two oceanic plates collide, the denser plate sinks below the lighter plate and eventually forms dark, heavy, basaltic volcanic islands.
• Transform plate boundary:
  • It occurs when two plates slide past each other, horizontally. E.g: San Andreas Fault.
• Divergent boundary:
  • It occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other. E.g: The Mid-Atlantic Ridge.