A "mid-ocean ridge" is a long, continuous mountain chain that runs through the center of the world's oceans. These underwater mountain ranges are the result of tectonic activity, where two plates are moving apart, and magma rises from the mantle creating new oceanic crust. There are several different synonyms for a mid-ocean ridge, including a mid-Atlantic ridge, a seafloor spreading center, and a spreading ridge. All of these terms refer to the same geological feature that plays an essential role in the ocean's formation and evolution. Despite having different names, these synonyms describe the same process of plate tectonics that constantly shapes and reshapes the surface of our planet.