From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The African Plate
TheAfrican Plate is a majortectonic plate. It includes much of thecontinent ofAfrica, as well as theoceanic crust which lies between the continent and various surrounding ocean ridges. Since the continent of Africa includes the African Plate and the smaller plates to its right, some literature refers to the African Plate as theNubian Plate to distinguish it from the continent as a whole.[1]
Map of East Africa showing some of the historically active volcanoes(red triangles) and theAfar Triangle (shaded, center) -- atriple junction where three plates are pulling away from one another: the Arabian Plate, the African Plate, and the Somali Plate (USGS)
Onehypothesis suggests amantle plume beneath theAfar region. Another hypothesis suggests the rifting is just a zone of weakness as the plates to its east move northwards.
The African Plate's speed is about 2.15 cm (0.85 in) per year.[2] It has been moving over the past 100 million years or so in a general northeast direction. This is drawing it closer to theEurasian Plate. There issubduction whereoceanic crust meetscontinental crust (in parts of the central and easternMediterranean).
Along its northeast margin, the African Plate is bounded by theRed Searift where theArabian Plate is moving away from the African Plate.
