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How fast is seafloor spreading along the East Pacific Rise?
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oceanic ridge
Major features of the ocean basins.
Seafloor spreading rates along the East Pacific Rise vary significantly along its length, ranging from fast to intermediate speeds.12
- Offshore from Chile and Peru: The spreading rate is approximately 159–160 mm (about 6.3 inches) per year, which is considered one of the most rapid rates on Earth.312
- Near the Gulf of California: The rate decreases to about 60 mm (approximately 2.4 inches) per year.32
These variations are characteristic of the ridge's classification as a fast-spreading system, which generally lacks the deep rift valleys found in slower-spreading ridges like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Instead, the crest of the East Pacific Rise typically features an axial high.12