Why are there so many earthquakes in South America? South America's location atop the Nazca and South American plates of the circum-Pacific belt. South America's lack of stable infrastructure and good building codes. South America's incredible biodiversity lends itself to hazardous conditions. South America's proximity to two major oceans and the equator.

The correct answer is: South America's location atop the Nazca and South American plates of the circum-Pacific belt.<br /><br />South America is located on the boundary between two tectonic plates, the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate. The movement and interaction of these plates along the circum-Pacific belt, also known as the "Ring of Fire," is the primary cause of earthquakes in the region. The subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate leads to frequent seismic activity, including both shallow and deep earthquakes. This tectonic setting makes South America particularly prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity.