GEOGRAPHY THROUGH MAPS
Nazca Plate
The Nazca Plate lies beneath the eastern Pacific west of South America. Along much of the continental margin it subducts beneath the South American Plate.
Fast Facts
- The Peru–Chile trench marks much of the convergent plate boundary.
- The Andean volcanic arc lies on the overriding continental plate, not on the descending slab’s ocean surface.
- The Galápagos sit on the Nazca Plate but their volcanism is associated with a hotspot.
Connected lessons
- Nazca PlateMap, explanation and practice
Geographical connections
- AndesRelated places
- Galápagos IslandsRelated places
- Rapa Nui / Easter IslandRelated places
- Chuquicamata copper mineRelated places
- Ojos del SaladoRelated places
- MistiRelated places
- CotopaxiRelated places
- Cordillera Central · ColombiaRelated places