Why do faults often occur along plate boundaries?

Earthquakes can also occur far from the edges of plates, along faults. Faults are cracks in the earth where sections of a plate (or two plates) are moving in different directions. Faults are caused by all that bumping and sliding the plates do. They are more common near the edges of the plates.

Most faults occur along plate boundaries, where plates push or pull the crust so much that the crust breaks. Most faults occur along plateboundaries, where plates push or pull the crust so much that the crust breaks.