A divergent boundary is a type of tectonic plate boundary where two plates move away from each other. As the plates separate, magma from the Earth's mantle rises to fill the gap, creating new crust as it cools and solidifies. This process often results in the formation of mid-ocean ridges, underwater mountain ranges, and rift valleys on continents. Earthquakes are common along these boundaries due to the movement of the plates. There are two main types of divergent boundaries:
- Oceanic-oceanic divergent boundaries , where two oceanic plates move apart, leading to seafloor spreading and the creation of new oceanic crust. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a well-known example.
- Continental-continental divergent boundaries , where a continental plate splits, forming rift valleys such as the East African Rift Valley, which may eventually evolve into new ocean basins.
Divergent boundaries are also called constructive boundaries because they generate new crustal material
