Tectonic plates are gigantic segments or pieces of the Earth's crust and uppermost mantle that together constitute the Lithosphere. Tectonic Plates are of two types, namely oceanic crust and continental crust that differ in composition. Tectonic plates are not fixed but move above the molten mantle below them.Tectonic plates form either divergent, transform, or convergent boundaries when they come in contact. Such boundaries are highly susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Orogeny also takes place at such boundaries. Tectonic plates are defined as major and minor plates depending on their size. There are a total of seven major tectonic plates which cover nearly 95% of the Earth's surface.
Major Tectonic Plates By Size-
- Pacific Plate - 103,300,000 Sq Km
- North American Plate - 75,900,000 Sq Km
- Eurasian Plate - 67,800,000 Sq Km
- African Plate - 61,300,000 Sq Km
- Antarctic Plate - 60,900,000 Sq Km
- Indo-Australian Plate - 58,900,000 Sq Km
- South American Plate - 43,600,000 Sq Km
Minor Tectonic Plates By Size-
- Somali Plate - 16,700,000 Sq Km
- Nazca Plate - 15,600,000 Sq Km
- Philippine Sea Plate - 5,500,000 Sq Km
- Arabian Plate - 5,000,000 Sq Km
- Caribbean Plate - 3,300,000 Sq Km
- Scotia Plate - 1,600,000 Sq Km
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