Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Mid-Atlantic Ridge is in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean
The ridge is a huge chain of underwater mountains that runs down the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The chain runs from Bouvet island near the North Pole 6,200 miles to just below South Africa.
Lighter blue shows the mid-atlantic ridge picture
Mid-Atlantic ridge is a divergent boundary
Divergent boundary
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a divergent boundary where crustal plates are separating. How magma oozing up from the mantle flows into a rift valley between the two plates forming the mountain range. The mountain range is part of the mid ocean ridge that is approximately 25,000 miles long.
Mountain range at Mid-Atlantic Ridge
The mountain range is between 300 and 600 miles wide. It rises above the seafloor an average of two miles. Several peaks form islands on the ridge. Most of the islands are uninhabited.
Iceland sits on the ridge
Iceland volcanoes are part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge above a hot spot. Scientists are constantly studying the volcanoes. They can study how a divergent boundary forms the Mid-Atlantic Ridge on land without having to go to the bottom of the ocean floor with a submersible to view the ridge formation in action.
More Ocean Links
What Causes Tsunamis Today we know that tsunamis are naturally generated waves. Find out how and why they form.
Mid Atlantic Ridge The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a mountain range that runs down the center of the Atlantic Ocean through Iceland.
Ocean Trenches Ocean trenches are found all around the Pacific Ring of Fire. Find out how and why they develop.
Sea mount There are more than 60,000 sea mounts located in the world's oceans.
Oceanic Zones Find out about the four major zones where plants and animals live in the ocean.
Ocean Facts Discover what causes tsunamis, where ocean trenches are located and how the Mid-Atlantic Ridge was discovered.
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