 The Nazca plate subducts beneath the South America plate at a speed of 7 – 9 centimetres ( 2 @.@ 8 – 3 @.@ 5 in ) per year in the area of the Central Volcanic Zone . The subduction results in volcanism along the occidental Cordillera 240 – 300 kilometres ( 150 – 190 mi ) east of the trench formed by the subduction . 
