Science Olympiad Dynamic Planet Practice Test

What geological feature is created as a result of continental-continental convergence?

1. Volcanoes

2. Mid-ocean ridges

3. Mountain ranges

4. Ocean trenches

The correct answer is: Mountain ranges

Continental-continental convergence occurs when two continental plates collide. This process leads to significant vertical uplift due to the intense pressure and forces involved in the collision. Unlike oceanic plates, which tend to subduct beneath one another, continental plates are less dense and do not sink easily. Instead, they buckle and fold, resulting in the formation of large mountain ranges over geological timescales. The Himalayas, for example, were formed as a result of the collision between the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate. This collision continues to elevate the mountain range, illustrating the dynamic processes involved in continental-continental convergence. Other geological features, such as volcanoes, usually form at subduction zones involving oceanic and continental plates, while mid-ocean ridges and ocean trenches are associated with oceanic plate interactions, not continental convergence. Thus, mountain ranges are the defining feature of continental-continental collisions.