Which geological feature is typically formed at divergent boundaries?

Divergent boundaries occur where two tectonic plates are moving apart from each other. As these plates separate, magma from the mantle rises to fill the gap, leading to the formation of new crust. This process creates mid-ocean ridges, which are underwater mountain ranges formed by tectonic activity. The most well-known example is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and North American plates diverge.

At divergent boundaries, the upward movement of magma not only forms ridges but is also associated with the creation of new oceanic crust, which is why mid-ocean ridges are specifically characteristic features of these boundaries. This is in contrast to mountain ranges, which form primarily at convergent boundaries where plates collide, or deep ocean trenches, which are also a product of plate collisions but rather represent subduction zones. While volcanoes can be found at divergent boundaries, they are more commonly associated with these ridges, as they are the result of the magma generating new land. Thus, mid-ocean ridges encapsulate the main geological feature associated with divergent boundaries.