the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an underwater mountain range that runs down the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, stretching about 10,000 miles. It forms where tectonic plates—massive sections of Earth's crust—are slowly moving apart. As these plates separate, magma from beneath the Earth's surface rises to fill the gap, creating new oceanic crust and forming the mountains. This process causes continuous volcanic activity and earthquakes along the ridge. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a key part of the global system of divergent boundaries, shaping the geology of the Atlantic Ocean and contributing to Earth's ongoing geological evolution.