Somali plate
| Somali plate | |
|---|---|
| Type | Minor |
| Approximate area | 16,700,000 km2 |
| Movement1 | south-east |
| Speed1 | 6 mm/year |
| Features | East Africa, Socotra Archipelago, Madagascar, Indian Ocean |
| 1Relative to the African plate | |
The Somali plate is a minor tectonic plate which straddles the Equator in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is currently in the process of separating from the African plate along the East African Rift Valley and moving to the Indian subcontinent. It is approximately centered on the island of Madagascar and includes about half of the east coast of Africa, from the Gulf of Aden in the north through the East African Rift Valley. The southern boundary with the Nubian–African plate is a diffuse plate boundary consisting of the Lwandle plate.