Q. Consider the following structures:
- Hawaiian Islands
- Himalayas
- Red Sea Rift
Which of the above is/are example(s) of continent-continent convergent plate boundaries?
Answer:
2 Only
Notes: Among the given structures, the Himalayas is an example of a continent-continent convergent plate boundary.
A continent-continent convergent plate boundary occurs when two tectonic plates carrying continental crust collide with each other. As they converge, neither plate is subducted (or pushed beneath the other) due to their buoyancy. Instead, the continental crust crumples, folds, and uplifts, forming mountain ranges.
In the case of the Himalayas, the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate are converging, and the collision between these two plates has resulted in the formation of the world's tallest mountain range, the Himalayas. This ongoing tectonic activity is responsible for the continuing uplift of the Himalayas.
The Hawaiian Islands are an example of a hotspot volcanic chain, and the Red Sea Rift is an example of a divergent plate boundary.