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Southwest Indian Ridge

oceanic ridge, Indian Ocean

Quick Summary

The Southwest Indian Ridge is a part of the global oceanic ridge system, located in the Indian Ocean. It is a seismically active mountain chain where seafloor spreading occurs. This ridge branches off from the Mid-Indian Ridge southeast of Madagascar and extends southwestward until it merges with the Atlantic-Indian Ridge south of Africa. Oceanic ridges are extensive underwater mountain chains that form the largest features in ocean basins and are crucial for the formation of new oceanic crust through seafloor spreading.12

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