<P> The San Andreas Fault is a continental transform fault that extends roughly 1,200 kilometers ( 750 mi ) through California . It forms the tectonic boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate , and its motion is right - lateral strike - slip ( horizontal ) . The fault divides into three segments , each with different characteristics and a different degree of earthquake risk . The slip rate along the fault ranges from 20 to 35 mm ( 0.79 to 1.38 in ) / yr . </P>
<P> The San Andreas Fault is a continental transform fault that extends roughly 1,200 kilometers ( 750 mi ) through California . It forms the tectonic boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate , and its motion is right - lateral strike - slip ( horizontal ) . The fault divides into three segments , each with different characteristics and a different degree of earthquake risk . The slip rate along the fault ranges from 20 to 35 mm ( 0.79 to 1.38 in ) / yr . </P>
the san andreas fault is an example of which kind of tectonic plate boundary
the san andreas fault is an example of which kind of tectonic plate boundary
transform fault
transform fault