Plate Tectonics Questions Medium
A divergent boundary is a type of plate boundary where two tectonic plates move away from each other. This movement creates a gap or rift between the plates, allowing magma from the Earth's mantle to rise and fill the space. As the magma cools and solidifies, new crust is formed, leading to the creation of new oceanic crust in the case of divergent boundaries occurring in the oceanic lithosphere. On land, divergent boundaries can result in the formation of rift valleys. The most well-known example of a divergent boundary is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and North American plates are moving apart, causing the Atlantic Ocean to widen. Divergent boundaries are associated with volcanic activity, earthquakes, and the formation of new crust.