MiðAtlantshafshryggurinn

MiðAtlantshafs is a term used in Icelandic to refer to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This is a prominent underwater mountain range that runs through the Atlantic Ocean. It is a divergent tectonic plate boundary where the North American and Eurasian plates are slowly pulling apart. This separation process, known as seafloor spreading, leads to the formation of new oceanic crust.

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge extends for approximately 16,000 kilometers, making it one of the longest mountain ranges on Earth, though much of it lies submerged. It varies in depth, with some portions rising significantly above sea level, forming islands such as Iceland. Volcanic activity and earthquakes are common along the ridge due to the constant movement of the tectonic plates. Hydrothermal vents are also found in this region, supporting unique ecosystems of extremophile organisms. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge plays a crucial role in plate tectonics and the Earth's geological processes.