Which type of convergent boundary is characterized by two continental plates that cause tall mountain ranges without subduction or volcanoes?

The characteristic of a continental to continental boundary is that it involves two continental tectonic plates colliding. When these plates converge, the lithosphere is pushed upward due to their buoyant nature, leading to the formation of tall mountain ranges. This process is known as orogeny.

Unlike subduction zones, where one oceanic plate is forced beneath another plate, usually resulting in volcanic activity and the formation of trenches, the collision of two continental plates does not usually create sufficient density difference to allow for subduction. As a result, volcanic activity is minimal or absent. Instead, the major geological activity is the uplift of the crust, which forms extensive mountain ranges such as the Himalayas, created from the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate.

In summation, the convergence of continental plates is significant for mountain formation due to the ability of the continental crust to withstand the compressive forces without subducting, distinguishing it from other types of convergent boundaries where other geological features are more prevalent.