Question

Answer the question from the given map
Q.1 Which two plates played a major role in the formation of South America?
Q.2 Which two plates lie between the North America Plate and South America Plate?
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Answer 1

Nazca plate and South American plate

Answer 2

Answer:

1) The two plates the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate played a major role in the formation of South America.

2) The two plates in between the North America Plate and the South America Plate are Caribbean Plate and Cocos Plate.

Explanation:

• Tectonic plates: these are the large plates that make up the foundation of the Earth's crust and the shape of the continents.
• It comprises the bottom of the crust and the top of the Earth's mantle.
• There are ten major plates and many minor plates.  
• Tectonic plate is also called a lithospheric plate.
• The plate boundaries of North and South America are formed by the distribution of earthquakes across the region.
• The North American plate extends from the west coast of the American continent to the mid-ocean ridge of the Atlantic and into eastern Siberia.  
• The South American plate extends from the west coast of the South American continent to the mid-ocean ridge of the Atlantic.
• The intraplate earthquakes are very common in the Americas, the thrust and strike-slip faulting along the margin produce the most dangerous earthquakes in the region.

Hence, the two plates forming South America are the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate.

The plates between North America and South America are Caribbean Plate and Cocos Plate.