Final answer:
Montana is located on the North American Plate. Tectonic activity in the vicinity, like the movement of the Pacific Plate and the presence of the Yellowstone hotspot, has shaped the region's landscape, including volcanic features and mountain ranges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. state of Montana is located on the North American Plate. When examining the tectonic activities along the West coast of North America, we see that there's a dynamic interaction of several tectonic plates, including the Pacific Plate, which is moving northward relative to the North American Plate. This tectonic activity has shaped much of the North American western coastline through processes such as the formation of the San Andreas Fault, which lies between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. Notably, Los Angeles, on the Pacific Plate, is slowly drifting northward due to this movement.
Zooming in on the Juan de Fuca Plate, off the coast of Washington and Oregon, we find that it is part of a complex boundary with the North American Plate that includes subduction zones. These subduction areas are responsible for the tectonic processes that formed the Cascade Range, including Mount St. Helens. As the Juan de Fuca Plate continues its relative movement, it is anticipated to eventually be subducted beneath the North American Plate.
In Montana, the geologic features are influenced by the presence of hotspots, such as the Yellowstone hotspot, which is associated with the North American Plate. This tectonic setting has produced significant volcanic activity over geological time scales. Despite being inland, Montana's geology is an integral part of the overall tectonic framework of the western United States.