A continental plate is a tectonic plate that primarily carries landmasses, such as the North American Plate. An oceanic plate, in contrast, is composed of denser basaltic crust and is found beneath oceans, like the Pacific Plate. When these two types of plates interact, the oceanic plate often subducts beneath the continental plate, leading to geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountain ranges. This process is a key aspect of plate tectonics.
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