Indo-Australian plate facts for kids
The Indo-Australian plate is a very large tectonic plate. Think of Earth's outer layer as a giant puzzle made of these plates. This plate includes the continent of Australia and the ocean around it. It also covers the Indian subcontinent and nearby waters in the northwest.
What is a Tectonic Plate?
Earth's outer shell, called the crust, is broken into huge pieces. These pieces are called tectonic plates. They are always moving, but very slowly. This movement causes things like earthquakes, volcanoes, and the formation of mountains.
Where is the Indo-Australian Plate Located?
This massive plate covers a huge area. It includes:
- The entire continent of Australia.
- A large part of the Indian Ocean.
- The Indian subcontinent, which includes countries like India.
- Parts of the Pacific Ocean.
- Islands like New Guinea and parts of Indonesia.
- New Zealand is also near its boundaries.
How Did the Indo-Australian Plate Form?
The Indo-Australian plate wasn't always one big piece. It formed when two separate plates, the Indian plate and the Australian plate, joined together. This happened about 43 million years ago. Imagine two puzzle pieces slowly pushing against each other until they became one. This joining created the single Indo-Australian plate we know today.
