<P> A few hotspots are thought to exist below the North American Plate . The most notable hotspots are the Yellowstone (Wyoming), Raton (New Mexico), and Anahim (British Columbia) hotspots . These are thought to be caused by a narrow stream of hot mantle convecting up from the Earth's core - mantle boundary called a mantle plume, although some geologists prefer upper - mantle convection as a cause . The Yellowstone and Anahim hotspots are thought to have first arrived during the Miocene period and are still geologically active, creating earthquakes and volcanoes . The Yellowstone hotspot is most notable for the Yellowstone Caldera and the many calderas that lie in the Snake River Plain while the Anahim hotspot is most notable for the Anahim Volcanic Belt, currently found in the Nazko Cone area . </P> <P> For the most part, the North American Plate moves in roughly a southwest direction away from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge . </P> <P> The motion of the plate cannot be driven by subduction as no part of the North American Plate is being subducted, except for a small section comprising part of the Puerto Rico Trench; thus other mechanisms continue to be investigated . </P> <P> One recent study suggests that a mantle convective current is propelling the plate . </P>

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