They are the solid crustal rock floating on the top of a mantle convection cell. They formed the same way slag forms on the tops of convection cells in the molten metal in a smelter furnace. Sections of the mantle also float on the tops of convection cells in the molten metal of the liquid core.
If you want to watch the tops of some convection cells form and move, get a cup of some hot drink (e.g. coffee or tea) and let it sit undisturbed for a minute or so to let all currents but convection currents stop. When you look at the surface of the hot drink it will be covered in very tiny polygons. These polygons are the tops of convection cells in the drink, don't they look something like a miniature map of crustal plates? Watch as they expand, contract, and move about.
The seven crustal plates are African Plate, Antarctic Plate, Australian Plate, Eurasian Plate, North American Plate, South American Plate, and Pacific Plate.
the eurasian plate
eurasian plate
The crustal plate found between the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate is the Antarctic Plate.
Worldwide, the mountains are the evidence of crustal plates.
1. Pacific Plate2. North American plate3. South American Plate4.African Plate5. Eurasian plate6. Australian plateand last but not least7. Antarctic plate
Caribbean Plate
The crustal plates are in constant motion, there is no last movement
Hawaii is located on the Pacific Plate.
your question is unrelevant
Tectonics
Tectonics