The Mid-Ocean Ridge is a global system of underwater mountains that forms where tectonic plates spread apart and new seafloor is created. Magma rises up in these areas, hardens, and creates new crust. Parts of the Mid-Ocean Ridge are exposed above sea level, like at Thingvellir National Park in Iceland, where volcanic eruptions have occurred and impacted human settlements in the past. Unique ecosystems have formed around hydrothermal vents on the Mid-Ocean Ridge, hosting organisms like tubeworms, spider crabs, and giant clams.

1. Magma, Tubeworms, and Clams, oh my! All about the Mid-Ocean Ridge. By Fenn and Zoë

2. What is the Mid-Ocean Ridge? It is a “network” of mostly underwater mountains. They are all connected and form a large “chain” wrapping almost around the world. “The mid-ocean ridge winds its way between the continents much like the seam on a baseball.” -http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/baseball.html Mid-Ocean Ridge. 2009. Ken MacDonald. 28 sept. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/blueplanet/infobursts/images/midoceanridge.gif http://encarta.msn.com/text_761595522_0/mid-ocean_ridge.html

3. How is it Formed? Divergent oceanic plates spread apart, causing magma to bubble out. The magma hardens and forms an underwater mountain. This process is also called “Seafloor Spreading.” Marshak, Stephen. Earth: Portrait of a Planet. New York, NY: WW Norton and Company Inc., 2001.

4. http://www.gly.uga.edu/railsback/1121MORBasic.jpeg

5. Thingvellir(thing-vill-eer) Thingvellir is in Iceland. Some of the Mid-Ocean Ridge is exposed on the surface of Thingvellir. A river has formed there. Horrible volcanoes happen in Thingvellir because of the ridge. About 9,000 People died because a volcano killed their livestock. Thingvellir. 29 Sep. 2009. <http://www.edwebproject.org/scandanavia/thingvellir.html>

6. IT’S HOT! Fun Facts! A lot of the Mid-Ocean Ridge is still unmapped. Most of the ridge lies 6,000 ft. beneath the sea. Some of the sea life near the Mid-Ocean Ridge includes giant tube worms, spider crabs, and giant clams! Thingvellir was home to the first parliament for vikings! Mid-Ocean Ridge. 2009. Ken Macdonald. 29 Sep. 2009. <http://encarta.msn.com/text_761595522_0/mid-ocean_ridge.html> Iceland Volcanics and Plate Tectonics. 2003. USGS. 29 Sep. 2009. http://vulcan.usgs.gov/glossary/platetectonics/description-plate-tectonics.html Exploring the Deep Ocean Floor: Hot Springs and Strange Creatures. 1999. USGS. 29 Sep. 2009. http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/exploring.html Thingvellir. 29 Sep. 2009. <http://www.edwebproject.org/scandanavia/thingvellir.html http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TBo02pPkXnY/R7AulQC0oaI/AAAAAAAAAas/BwDqRHdf7q4/s320/tubeworm.jpg http://impressive.net/people/gerald/2005/11/02/15-59-06-sm.jpg

7. Well, thanks for watching! Hope you liked our presentation and learned a lot from it!  And by the way… do you think that the Vikings were affected by the mid ocean ridge in Thingvellir too? Hmmmmmm…. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_umo9e9iDLLQ/Sk-OKbCBiEI/AAAAAAAABLw/RGlEiUwomDs/s400/viking+cartoon.bmp