Plate Tectonics

Plate Tectonics is a widely accepted scientific theory which suggests the Earth's lithosphere is made up of several large tectonic plates, which have been moving apart for centuries. According to National Geographic: "The movement of the plates creates three types of tectonic boundaries: convergent, where plates move into one another; divergent, where plates move apart; and transform, where plates move sideways in relation to each other. "They move at a rate of one to two inches (three to five centimeters) per year."