Question

The tectonic plates that lie under the Earth's crust constantly move; in which general direction does the South American Plate which is under South America and much of the Atlantic west of the mid-Atlantic Ridge move?

Answer 1

West
The South American Plate moves at about 77 mm (3.0 in) per year westwards towards the Nazca Plate, which lies along much of its west edge, and which in its turn is moving east at 79 mm (3.1 in) per year and subducting under the South American Plate. The movement towards each other has caused and is causing the continent-long Andes Mountain Range to rise.