Mid-Atlantic Ridge

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a vast underwater mountain range that runs down the center of the Atlantic Ocean, where the tectonic plates of North America and Eurasia meet on one side and South America and Africa on the other. It forms as these plates slowly pull apart, allowing magma from the Earth's mantle to rise and create new oceanic crust. This process is a key part of plate tectonics, leading to earthquakes and volcanic activity. The ridge is also home to unique ecosystems that thrive near hydrothermal vents, making it an important area for scientific research.