Nazca Plate Boundary
subduction — 5,900 km
The Nazca Plate subducts beneath the South American Plate along the entire western coast of South America. This boundary has produced the largest earthquake ever recorded — the 1960 M9.5 Valdivia earthquake — and continues to generate frequent major seismic events across the region.
Type
subduction
Length
5,900 km
Countries
4
Linked Cities
5
Last Major Earthquake
M8.8 — Maule, Chile (2010-02-27)
Affected Countries
Cities Near This Fault
General tectonic context only—not a site-specific hazard assessment. Live event data: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.