What is the mid Atlantic range?

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a prominent mountain range beneath the Atlantic Ocean running north and south. It can be thought of as a spine on the ocean floor with numerous spurs stretching out on either side. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is part of the global mid-ocean ridge system, a continuous mountain chain that runs across all the ocean basins. The northern end reaches Iceland and the southern end is near Antarctica, with a length of about 18,000 kilometers (11,000 mi).

As the sea floor spreads from the ridge center, it cools causing the magnetic minerals to align with Earth’s magnetic field, similar to how a compass needle aligns. Because Earth's magnetic field reverses at irregular intervals, the newly created seafloor records these reversals as stripes of alternating polarity. By measuring the distance between these stripes it is possible to determine the spreading rate of the seafloor.

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is considered to be one of the most important parts of Earth as it is responsible for several important geological processes, including the formation of new oceanic crust and the recycling of old crust. The movement and interaction of tectonic plates along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge also creates earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and hydrothermal activity, all of which are essential for the formation of new life and mineral deposits.