The South American Plate covers most of South America and is one of the seven major plates of the world. It once joined together with the African plate, however, they have been moving apart ever since. The distinct shapes of the South American plate and African plate drew suspicions of possibly fitting together for centuries. As they drift apart, they have caused a divergent boundary - therefore making the very distinct Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This plate shares the longest convergent boundary with the Nazca plate - the coast is filled with coastal mountains along the west coast.