Why do volcanoes form near the edges of Tectonic Plates?
There are two types of plate boundaries: convergent (colliding) and divergent (separating). Along convergent boundaries, one of the converging plates has to submerge under the other plate because there is nowhere else to go: it’s either up or down. The tip of the floatin plate can reach only so far up (like Mt Everest & the Himalayas), and the overlapping part of the other plate has to go down. Some of the sediment and light rock bed that are pulled down begin to melt as it sinks deeper, and boils, pushing up the distance to the surface to erupt and form a volcano. Along the divergent boundaries, rising magma loosens and melts the crust pulling it apart in opposite directions. Along the cracks, magma oozes out to fill the gap. These often form what is called a mid-oceanic ridge or a rift valley. Volcanoes are also found in these areas although they are not as explosive as those found on convergent boundaries. — additional info — Where’s the gap? When tectonic plates are pulled apart
