Volcanoes and mountains are formed at
plate boundaries.
Volcanoes and mountains are formed at plate boundaries, specifically at convergent plate boundaries and divergent plate boundaries.
At convergent plate boundaries, two tectonic plates are moving towards each other. When an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate, the denser oceanic plate is forced underneath the less dense continental plate in a process called subduction. This subduction leads to the formation of a deep trench and can also cause volcanic activity. As the oceanic plate sinks into the mantle, it undergoes melting due to the high temperatures and pressures, resulting in the formation of magma. The magma then rises through the continental crust and can reach the surface, forming volcanoes.
At divergent plate boundaries, tectonic plates move away from each other. As the plates separate, magma from the asthenosphere (the partially molten layer below the Earth's crust) rises to fill the gap. The magma cools and solidifies, creating new oceanic crust. Over time, this process forms long mountain ranges that are often underwater, such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. In some cases, the volcanic activity at divergent boundaries can also lead to the formation of volcanic islands.
So, in summary, volcanoes and mountains are formed at plate boundaries where tectonic plates interact, either by colliding and subducting at convergent boundaries or by separating at divergent boundaries. These processes involve the movement of magma, which can lead to the formation of volcanic structures and the uplift of mountains.