What geological feature often results from convergent plate boundaries?

Study for the Earth Science Regents Exam. Dive into flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Prepare confidently for your exam!

Convergent plate boundaries occur where two tectonic plates collide or move toward one another. This process often leads to significant geological features due to the immense pressure and stress that build up between the colliding plates. One of the most prominent results of such interactions is the formation of mountain ranges.

As continental plates collide, they push against each other, causing the crust to thicken and fold, resulting in the uplift of large landforms, which are perceived as mountain ranges. An example of this process is the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates, leading to the formation of the Himalayas.

While oceanic trenches can also form at convergent boundaries—typically in scenarios where an oceanic plate subducts beneath another oceanic or continental plate—the question specifically asks for the geological feature that is most commonly associated with these boundaries. Thus, the formation of mountain ranges stands out as a clear and significant outcome of convergent plate interactions, driven largely by the collision of continental plates.

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