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LITHOEN

Oceanic ridge

Global mid-ocean ridge system

Also known as Mid-ocean ridge, Global mid-ocean ridge

The connected submarine mountain chain that winds around the entire planet at divergent plate boundaries. It is the largest topographic feature on Earth’s surface and the site where most new crust is made.

How this record is known

2
Directly recorded
Observed or measured, reported by the party that made the observation.
1
Settled consensus
Cited as the accepted position of the discipline.

3 of 3 claims on this page cite at least one registered source. Counts describe how each statement is known, not how likely it is to be true.

What Lithoen records

Each claim states how it is known and cites its evidence.

Measured4,500 m

The mid-ocean ridge rises an average of about 4,500 metres above the surrounding sea floor, making it the most prominent topographic feature on the planet’s surface.

  • precision note: An average relief, as stated by the source.

Evidence support: Supported by the cited evidence one source

Evidence: Kious 1996 Primary authority

Measured50,000 km

The global mid-ocean ridge is more than 50,000 kilometres long and in places more than 800 kilometres across, winding between the continents around the whole globe.

  • precision note: Stated as "more than 50,000 km": a lower bound.
  • method: Oceanographic survey data gathered by many nations from the 1950s.

Evidence support: Supported by the cited evidence one source

Evidence: Kious 1996 Primary authority

Established2.5–15 cm/yr

Average rates of plate separation range from less than 2.5 centimetres per year at the Arctic Ridge to more than 15 centimetres per year on the East Pacific Rise near Easter Island.

  • method: Calculated from ocean-floor magnetic striping and the known durations of magnetic reversals.
  • precision note: The stated bounds are themselves approximate: the source gives "less than 2.5" and "more than 15" cm/yr.

Evidence support: Supported by the cited evidence one source

Evidence: Kious 1996 Primary authority

In the knowledge graph

Record last updated 2026-09-06. Corrections follow the published corrections policy; superseded claims are retained, never silently edited.