* Continental-Continental Convergence: When two continental plates collide, they are both made of relatively light, buoyant rock. Neither plate can subduct (slide) under the other.
* Folding and Uplift: Instead of subduction, the immense pressure from the collision causes the rock to buckle, fold, and uplift, creating towering mountain ranges.
* Examples: The Himalayas, the Alps, and the Appalachian Mountains were all formed through continental-continental collisions.
Let's illustrate with an example:
1. Collision: The Indian subcontinent (a continental plate) is still colliding with the Eurasian Plate (another continental plate).
2. Folding: This collision has caused the land to buckle and fold, creating the massive Himalayan Mountain Range.
3. Uplift: The continued pressure pushes the mountains even higher, making them the tallest in the world.
In Summary: The collision of two continental plates results in the formation of mountain ranges through the processes of folding and uplift.