What is the South American plate?
Q: What is the South American plate?
A: The South American plate is a major tectonic plate which includes the continent of South America and part of the Atlantic Ocean seabed.
Q: What is the southern boundary of the South American plate?
A: The southern boundary of the South American plate is where it meets the African plate at the southern part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Q: What kind of boundary does the easterly edge of the South American plate have?
A: The easterly edge of the South American plate is a divergent boundary because it has been moving west for about 60 million years.
Q: Are the western and southern edges of the South American plate simple or complicated?
A: The western and southern edges of the South American plate are complicated, with a number of small plates.
Q: What is the name of the plate on the western edge of the South American plate?
A: The plate on the western edge of the South American plate is called the Nazca plate.
Q: What caused the Andes mountain chain?
A: The Andes mountain chain was caused by the subduction of the Nazca plate under the South American plate.
Q: How long ago did the easterly edge of the South American plate start moving west?
A: The easterly edge of the South American plate started moving west about 60 million years ago.
