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Maoke Plate
The Maoke Plate underlies the rugged central highlands of New Guinea, home to the Maoke Mountains (also called the Snow Mountains). This tiny microplate formed within the collision zone where the Australian and Pacific plates meet. The highlands rise to over 4,800 meters, featuring tropical glaciers near the equator - a testament to the powerful mountain-building forces at work.
Plate Information
Size: 0.05 million km²
Movement: Complex
Speed: Variable
Countries: 2
Countries & Territories
Indonesia (partial)
Papua New Guinea (partial)
Key Facts
- Located in the central highlands of New Guinea
- Part of the Australia-Pacific collision zone
- Complex deformation
- Active mountain building