Where are oceanic ridges found around Earth?

Oceanic ridges are found in every ocean basin on Earth, forming a continuous, interconnected global system that spans approximately 80,000 km (50,000 miles). These submarine mountain chains are not limited to the centers of oceans; for example, the East Pacific Rise is a major ridge located far from a mid-ocean position.123

Key components of this global system include:

• Atlantic Ocean: The Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs in a curving path from the Arctic Ocean to the South Atlantic, bisecting the basin.45
• Indian Ocean: The ridges form an inverted Y-shape, including the Carlsberg Ridge, the Mid-Indian Ridge, and branches extending toward the southwest and southeast.6
• Pacific Ocean: The system includes the East Pacific Rise and the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge, among other complex features.7

These ridges are sites of seafloor spreading, where tectonic plates diverge and new oceanic crust is created.23