Here's how it works:

* The Nazca Plate (oceanic) is denser than the South American Plate (continental).

* The denser Nazca Plate subducts (sinks) beneath the South American Plate.

* As the Nazca Plate descends, friction and heat cause melting of the oceanic crust.

* This molten rock rises to the surface, creating volcanoes along the continental margin.

* The process of subduction and volcanism also causes the continental crust to buckle and fold, forming the Andes mountain range.

Other examples of oceanic-continental convergence include:

* The Cascade Range in North America (formed by the subduction of the Juan de Fuca Plate beneath the North American Plate)

* The Japanese Islands (formed by the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate)

* The Indonesian Archipelago (formed by the subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate)

Key features of oceanic-continental convergence:

* Volcanic arcs: chains of volcanoes formed on the continental side of the subduction zone.

* Deep ocean trenches: depressions in the ocean floor created by the bending of the oceanic plate.

* Earthquakes: frequent and often powerful earthquakes due to the movement and friction along the subduction zone.

* Mountain ranges: formed by the uplift and deformation of the continental crust.