interplate earthquakes

Interplate earthquakes occur at the boundaries between tectonic plates, which are large sections of the Earth's crust that float on the semi-fluid mantle beneath them. These plates constantly move, but sometimes they get stuck due to friction. When the stress builds up enough, they suddenly slip, releasing energy as seismic waves, which we feel as an earthquake. This type of earthquake can be powerful and is typically associated with faults, like the San Andreas Fault in California, where the boundaries of plates interact. Understanding interplate earthquakes helps in assessing earthquake risks in vulnerable areas.