1. Nazca Plate: This oceanic plate is subducting (diving) under the South American Plate.
2. South American Plate: This continental plate is being pushed upwards by the subducting Nazca Plate, leading to the formation of the Andes mountains.
This process is known as subduction, where denser oceanic plates slide beneath less dense continental plates. The resulting pressure and heat melt the subducting plate, creating magma that rises and erupts, forming volcanoes and contributing to the uplift of the Andes.
