Editing Explorer plate (section)

{{Short description|Oceanic tectonic plate beneath the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada}}
{{Infobox tectonic plate
| image = File:ExplorerPlate.png
| alt = The Explorer plate
| type = [[List of tectonic plates#Microplates|Microplate]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|49.5|-129.5}} 
| area =  18,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (6950&nbsp;sq&nbsp;mi)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://geology.about.com/library/bl/blplate_size_table.htm |title=Sizes of Tectonic or Lithospheric Plates |publisher=Geology.about.com |date=2014-03-05 |access-date=2017-04-05 |archive-date=2016-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605161523/http://geology.about.com/library/bl/blplate_size_table.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| move_direction = north-east
| move_speed = Up to 20 mm/year <ref>{{Cite journal|last=Riddihough|first=Robin|date=1984-08-10|title=Recent movements of the Juan de Fuca Plate System|journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth|language=en|volume=89|issue=B8|pages=6980–6994|doi=10.1029/JB089iB08p06980|issn=2156-2202|bibcode=1984JGR....89.6980R}}</ref>
| geo_features = [[Pacific Ocean]]
}}

The '''Explorer plate''' is an oceanic [[tectonic plate]] beneath the [[Pacific Ocean]] off the west coast of [[Vancouver Island]], Canada, which is partially [[Subduction|subducted]] under the [[North American plate]]. Along with the [[Juan de Fuca plate]] and [[Gorda plate]], the Explorer plate is a remnant of the ancient [[Farallon plate]], which has been subducted under the North American plate. The Explorer plate separated from the Juan de Fuca plate roughly 4 million years ago.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/province/cascade2.html|title=USGS Geology and Geophysics|last=Frank|first=Dave|website=geomaps.wr.usgs.gov|access-date=2017-05-08}}</ref> In its smoother, southern half, the average depth of the Explorer plate is roughly {{convert|2400|m|ft}} and rises up in its northern half to a highly variable [[ocean basin|basin]] between {{convert|1400|m|ft}} and {{convert|2200|m|ft}} in depth.