5 Questions
What type of fault is the San Andreas Fault?
Transform fault
Where does the San Andreas Fault terminate in the south?
Near Bombay Beach, California in the Salton Sea
What is the average slip rate along the entire fault?
20 to 35 mm per year
Where does the fault terminate in the north?
Near Eureka, California at the Mendocino Triple Junction
What is the tectonic boundary created by the San Andreas Fault?
Between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate
Study Notes
San Andreas Fault Characteristics
- The San Andreas Fault is a transform fault, a type of strike-slip fault where horizontal motion occurs between two tectonic plates.
Fault Extent
- The San Andreas Fault terminates in the south at the Salton Sea, a shallow lake in Southern California.
- The fault terminates in the north at the Mendocino Triple Junction, an area where the North American, Pacific, and Juan de Fuca tectonic plates meet.
Slip Rate and Tectonic Boundary
- The average slip rate along the entire fault is approximately 33-37 mm/yr (1.3-1.5 in/yr).
- The San Andreas Fault creates a tectonic boundary between the Pacific and North American plates, where the Pacific plate is sliding northwestward relative to the North American plate.
Test your knowledge about the San Andreas Fault with this quiz! Learn about its tectonic boundary, segments, and characteristics. See how much you know about this continental right-lateral strike-slip transform fault in California.
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