Divergent boundary facts for kids
Imagine the Earth's surface like a giant puzzle made of huge pieces called tectonic plates. A divergent boundary is a place where two of these plates are slowly moving away from each other. Think of it like two conveyor belts moving in opposite directions!
When divergent boundaries happen on continents, they first create deep cracks called rifts. These rifts can grow into wide rift valleys over time.
Most active divergent boundaries are found under the oceans. Here, they form long underwater mountain ranges known as mid-oceanic ridges.
Divergent boundaries can also create volcanic islands. This happens when the plates pull apart, making gaps that hot, melted rock (lava) rises to fill. As the lava cools and builds up, it forms new islands.
Over millions of years, tectonic plates can move hundreds of kilometers away from a divergent boundary. Because of this, the rocks closest to the boundary are always younger than the rocks found further away on the same plate. It's like a geological timeline!
Contents
What Happens at Divergent Boundaries?
When two plates move away from each other, a space opens up between them. This space is quickly filled with hot, melted rock called magma that rises from deep inside the Earth. As this magma cools, it forms new crust, adding fresh material to the Earth's surface. This process is called seafloor spreading when it happens in the ocean.
Sometimes, a new divergent boundary can start because of a 'hotspot'. This is a super hot spot deep inside the Earth where melted rock rises. This hot material can push up and even break apart the Earth's outer layer, called the lithosphere (which includes the crust and upper mantle).
A famous example of a hotspot helping to create a divergent boundary is under Iceland. Iceland is located right on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which is a divergent boundary. The island is actually getting wider by a few centimeters each year because the plates are pulling apart!
Famous Examples of Divergent Boundaries
Here are some well-known places where plates are pulling apart:
- Mid-Atlantic Ridge: This is a huge underwater mountain range that runs down the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It's where the North American and Eurasian plates are separating.
- East African Rift: This is a series of valleys and volcanoes in East Africa where the African plate is slowly splitting apart.
- Gakkel Ridge: This is another underwater ridge, found in the Arctic Ocean. It's one of the slowest-spreading ridges on Earth.
- Great Rift Valley: This is a larger system of rifts that includes the East African Rift.
Other Types of Plate Boundaries
Besides divergent boundaries, there are two other main ways tectonic plates interact:
- Convergent boundary: This is where two plates crash into each other. This can create mountains or deep ocean trenches.
- Transform boundary: This is where two plates slide past each other horizontally. This often causes earthquakes.
See also
In Spanish: Borde divergente para niños
