mid-oceanic ridge


mid-oceanic ridge

[′mid‚ō·shē¦an·ik ′rij] (geology) A continuous, median, seismic mountain range on the floor of the ocean, extending through the North and South Atlantic oceans, the Indian Ocean, and the South Pacific Ocean; the topography is rugged, elevation is 0.6-1.8 miles (1-3 kilometers), width is about 900 miles (1500 kilometers), and length is over 52,000 miles (84,000 kilometers). Also known as mid-ocean ridge; mid-ocean rise; oceanic ridge.