Earth’s outermost layer is separated into a dozen or more large and small slabs, called tectonic plates.
The earth’s outermost layer is divided into several tectonic plates which are; thick irregularly shaped slabs of solid rock that are usually made up of oceanic (sima) and continental (sial) lithosphere. The sizes and the thickness of the plates can differ greatly with the Pacific plate which is mostly located under the ocean as the largest plate. There are nine major tectonic plates which are named after the landforms located on them. They include; Eurasian, Indo-Australian, North American, Antarctic, Pacific, South American, Indian, African and Australian.