The earth is composed of two layers – the lithosphere and the asthenosphere. The lithosphere is composed of the earth’s crust and the uppermost part of the mantle. The asthenosphere lies beneath the lithosphere, and although solid, has a low viscosity (otherwise known as “stickiness”), which enables it to act like a liquid layer on which the lithosphere can float on.

The lithosphere is broken up into what are called tectonic plates. There are 8 main tectonic plates, and many more minor plates dividing up the lithosphere. These plates can either be categorized as a continental plate or an oceanic plate. A continental plate is mostly covered with parts of the lithosphere which have land mass above water. An oceanic plate however, is covered mostly by a part of the lithosphere which has a water basin.

 

The main plates are:

African Plate covering Africa - Continental plate
Antarctic Plate covering Antarctica - Continental plate
Australian Plate covering Australia - Continental plate
Indian Plate covering Indian subcontinent and a part of Indian Ocean - Continental plate
Eurasian Plate covering Asia and Europe - Continental plate
North American Plate covering North America and north-east Siberia - Continental plate
South American Plate covering South America - Continental plate
Pacific Plate covering the Pacific Ocean - Oceanic plate

Notable minor plates include the Arabian Plate, the Caribbean Plate, the Juan de Fuca Plate, the Cocos Plate, the Nazca Plate, the Philippine Plate and the Scotia Plate.