The Nazca Plate is a tectonic plate located in the eastern Pacific Ocean, primarily beneath the ocean and extending to the western coast of South America. It is bordered by the South American Plate to the east and the Pacific Plate to the west. The movement of the Nazca Plate is responsible for significant geological activity, including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the region. This plate is moving northeastward at a rate of about 7 centimeters per year, which contributes to the formation of the Andes Mountains along the western edge of South America. The interaction between the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate leads to subduction, where one plate moves under another, causing various geological phenomena.