Mark Twain. (2023, November 25). Wikiquote. Retrieved January 7, 2024 from https://en.wikiquote.org/w/index.php?title=Mark_Twain&oldid=3407072.
For the most part, the North American Plate moves in roughly a southwest direction away from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at a rate of about 2.3 centimeters (~1 inch) per year. At the same time, the Pacific Plate is moving to the northwest at a speed of between 7 and 11 centimeters (~3-4 inches) a year.