Transform boundary

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In plate tectonics, a transform boundary (also known as transform fault boundary, transform plate boundary, transform plate margin, strike-slip boundary, sliding boundary, or conservative plate boundary) is said to occur when tectonic plates slide and grind against each other along a transform fault. The relative motion of such plates is horizontal in either sinistral or dextral direction.

Most transform boundaries are found on the ocean floor, where they often offset active spreading ridges to form a zigzag plate boundary. However, the most famous transform boundaries are found on land. Many transform boundaries are locked in tension before suddenly releasing, and causing earthquakes.

[edit] Transform boundaries

The Southern Alps rise dramatically beside the Alpine Fault on New Zealand's West Coast. About 500 kilometres (300 mi) long; northwest at top.

• California's San Andreas Fault
• New Zealand's Alpine Fault
• Turkey's North Anatolian Fault
• Indonesia's Great Sumatran fault
• Middle East's Dead Sea transform fault

[edit] See also

• List of tectonic plate interactions

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