 Scientists identify the boundaries between two plates by the plate movement.  There are three types of plate boundaries: 1. Divergent 2. Convergent 3. Transform

A divergent boundary is a boundary where two plates are moving away from each other.

This is an example of a divergent boundary. Bridge across the Alfagaria Rift Valley in southwest Iceland, that is part of the boundary between the Eurasian and North American continental tectonic plates.

 A Rift Valley is a deep valley located on divergent boundaries.  Remember the mid-ocean ridge? The middle part of the mid-ocean ridge is called a rift valley.  Rift = crack

 As divergent boundaries widen rift valleys form and create new crust from magma that makes its way to the surface.

 A Convergent Boundary is a boundary between two plates that are moving toward each other.

Subduction Boundary – When an oceanic plate plunges beneath another plate it is said to be sub-ducting beneath the overriding plate. This boundary between the two plates is a subduction boundary. These boundaries can occur between two ocean plates or and ocean and continental plate. One important feature is a deep- sea trench. These form along the subduction zone.

 Collision Boundary – The boundary that forms when two continents collide is called a collision boundary.  Mountain ranges are usually formed along such boundaries.

 A Transform Boundary is a boundary between two plates that are sliding past each other.

 Movement along transform boundaries is not uniform and can sometimes cause earthquakes. The San Andreas Fault in North America is an example of a Transform Boundary.