Plates Separate The Mid-Ocean Ridge and rift valleys, such as the one that runs through eastern Africa, occur along boundaries where plates are spreading apart. New oceanic crust is created as the plates separate and molten rock rises up from the mantle and fills the space. read more
Iceland is a place where a mid-ocean ridge can be seen on land. What's more, Iceland is probably the only place in the world where the effects of two major tectonic plates drifting apart can easily be observed above sea level. read more