The Andes Mountains and Aleutian Islands were created through the process of subduction, where an oceanic plate moves beneath a continental plate.
Explanation:
1. The Earth's outer layer is divided into several tectonic plates that interact with each other along their boundaries.
2. In the case of the Andes Mountains, the Nazca Plate is subducting beneath the South American Plate, resulting in the formation of the mountain range through volcanic activity and crustal deformation.
3. Similarly, in the Aleutian Islands, the Pacific Plate is subducting beneath the North American Plate, leading to the volcanic arcs that make up the Aleutian Islands.
These geologic processes highlight the dynamic nature of the Earth's surface, where interactions between tectonic plates shape the landscape and contribute to the formation of mountain ranges, volcanic arcs, and other landforms.