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How do the continents move?
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The Earth's outer consists of rigid individual plates, made from the Earth's crust and the topmost part of the mantle. As the mantle material slowly moves, the plates move too. When two plates move apart, molten rock from inside the Earth wells up, filling the gap. The continents are embedded in the plates, like logs in the ice of a frozen river. As the plates move, the continents move with them. | | When two continental plates meet, one is dragged down beneath the other. |
 | | Folds develop when sedimentary rocks are subjected to pressure. When the pressure is too great for the rocks to withstand, they shear and faults are formed. |
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Previous:
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Book:
1001
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Section:
Earth
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Chapter:
Earth
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