What is the underwater mountain chain where new ocean floor is formed called?

The underwater mountain chain where new ocean floor is formed is known as a mid-ocean ridge. This feature arises from tectonic activity, specifically at divergent plate boundaries, where two tectonic plates are moving away from each other. As the plates separate, magma from the mantle rises to fill the gap, solidifying into new oceanic crust. This process is continuous and leads to the creation and expansion of the ocean floor over geological time scales.

Mid-ocean ridges are characterized by their elongated mountain ranges that traverse the ocean basins and are one of the most significant geological features of the Earth's surface. They play a crucial role in the process of seafloor spreading, which is fundamental for understanding plate tectonics and the dynamic nature of Earth's crust. The lively geological activity found at mid-ocean ridges often results in volcanic islands and hydrothermal vents that are rich in biodiversity.

Other options refer to different marine geological features. For instance, trenches are deep undersea valleys formed by the subduction of one tectonic plate beneath another, while seamounts are underwater mountains formed from volcanic activity but do not typically represent areas of new ocean floor formation. The continental shelf refers to the submerged border of a continent, extending from the high-water mark to the