Himalayas
Convergent plate boundaries are basically when two plates are moving toward each other. If the two plates are of equal density, they usually push up against each other, forming a mountain chain. If they are of unequal density, one plate usually sinks beneath the other in a subduction zone. They are also referred to as ‘destructive plate boundary’ because of this subduction. In a subduction zone, the ‘subducting plate’, moves beneath the other plate, this can consist of either oceanic or continental crust. The plate collision that occurs in areas within convergent boundaries can produce earthquakes, volcanic activity and crustal deformation. During collisions between two continental plates, large mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas are formed, which is my location of focus.
There are different types of convergent plates such as, oceanic vs. continental, oceanic vs. oceanic and the one which I will be focusing on is continental vs. continental convergent boundaries. When continental plates collide into one another, neither plate can usually subduct under the other because they are equally light and buoyant. Although the movement can only go by a few centimeters per year, they are pressed together under extreme pressure and frictional forces. Subduction can still occur between two continental plates, hence how deep trenches and tall mountain ranges are formed. This pressure creates buckling and slipping, both vertically and horizontally. This is the process by which the largest mountains on Earth have been formed like the impressive Himalaya. Himalayas, extend 2,900 km along the border between India and Tibet. Between 40 to 50 million years ago, when the two large landmasses we call India and Eurasia collided together by lots of plate movement. The conflict began in the Upper Cretaceous period, when the north-moving Indo-Australian Plate, moving at about 15 cm/year, collided with the Eurasian Plate. The immense pressure of the plates could only...