tectonic plates

The lithosphere is broken up into what are called tectonic plates. In the case of the Earth, there are currently seven or eight major and many minor plates. The lithospheric plates ride on the asthenosphere. These plates move in relation to one another at one of three types of plate boundaries: convergent, or collisional boundaries; divergent boundaries, also called spreading centers; and conservative transform boundaries. 

The tectonic plates produce:

• Earthquakes
• Volcanic activity
• Mountain-building