Cocos plate is located between:
(A) Central America and Pacific plate
(B) Asiatic and Pacific plate
(C) South America and Pacific plate
(D) Philippine and Indian plate
The correct answer is (A) Central America and Pacific plate.
Explanation 🗺️
The Cocos Plate is an oceanic tectonic plate located in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Its position is defined by the major geological features it borders.
It lies directly between the vast Pacific Plate to its west and the landmass of Central America to its east. The plate is being subducted, or forced underneath, the North American and Caribbean plates, upon which Central America sits. This subduction zone is the primary reason for the high frequency of earthquakes and the chain of volcanoes along the western coast of Central America.
Analysis of Other Options
- (B) Asiatic and Pacific plate: This is incorrect. The Asiatic Plate is located in Asia, on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.
- (C) South America and Pacific plate: This describes the location of the Nazca Plate, which is a separate plate situated just south of the Cocos Plate.
- (D) Philippine and Indian plate: This is incorrect. Both the Philippine Plate and the Indian Plate are located in Asia and are not in proximity to the Cocos Plate.