In California, the area that is not on the North American Plate is primarily located in the region around the San Andreas Fault. This famous fault marks the boundary between the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate. The sections of California’s coastline along the central and southern parts of the state, particularly those near cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, are considered to be on the Pacific Plate.
The geological activity in this region, including earthquakes, is a direct result of the interactions between these two tectonic plates. The Pacific Plate is moving northwestward relative to the North American Plate, which leads to significant geological features and phenomena, including the rugged terrain and seismic activity that California is known for.