The Earth's crust is actually broken into more than 12 major tectonic plates, and even more if you include smaller ones. Here's the breakdown:
* Major Plates: There are around 15 major plates. These are the big ones you'll see on most maps, like the North American Plate, the Pacific Plate, the Eurasian Plate, etc.
* Minor Plates: There are also many smaller plates, often called "microplates". These can be less well-defined and move independently or alongside the major plates.
So, while 12 is a good general idea, it's important to remember that the Earth's crust is more complex and dynamic than that!
