The Cocos Plate, a tectonic plate located beneath the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Central America, moves at an average speed of about 75 millimeters per year. This movement is relatively fast compared to some other tectonic plates.
The Cocos Plate is being pushed northeastward due to the spreading of the East Pacific Rise, a mid-ocean ridge where new oceanic crust is formed. As it moves, the Cocos Plate is subducting beneath the Caribbean Plate and the North American Plate, leading to significant geological activity such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in regions like Central America and Mexico.
Understanding the speed and direction of tectonic plates like the Cocos Plate is crucial for studying plate tectonics and predicting geological hazards.