Explain the relationship between the continents, the lithosphere, and the asthenosphere.

The tectonic plates are made up of Earth's crust and the upper part of the mantle layer underneath. Together the crust and upper mantle are called the lithosphere and they extend about 80 km deep. ... The flowing asthenosphere carries the lithosphere of the Earth, including the continents, on its back

The lithosphere is the tectonic plate we talk about in plate tectonics. The asthenosphere is the weak and easily deformed layer of the Earth that acts as a “lubricant” for the tectonic plates to slide over. The asthenosphere extends from 100 km depth to 660 km beneath the Earth's surface.

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