The importance of plate boundaries is beyond what we think!

There are four different plate boundaries which are Convergent, Divergent, Transform and Subduction. A Convergent Plate boundary is when 2 plates are moving together. A Divergent Plate boundary is when 2 plates are dividing and moving away from eachother. A Subduction is when one plate is moving on top of the other and the other is gradually on the bottom. Lastly, a Transform Plate boundary is when 2 plates are moving side to side from each other.

An Example of a Transform plate boundary would be the San Andreas Fault. There are also concurrents which is an area where both convergent and divergent movents happen.

The San Andreas Fault runs through the Cajon Pass in between the North American Plate and Pacific Plate. This fault line is a contenential transform fault which means both tectonic plates touch. It extends about 1,200 Km (750 miles) through California. Earthquakes occur along the fault line which causes the two plates to touch. This fault was named after the San Andreas Lake which is a small body of water that was formed in between both plates. The San Andreas Fault was formed mid Cenozoic about 30 mya (Lynch 2005).