Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A divergent boundary is where two tectonic plates move away from each other, resulting in the creation of new crust as magma rises to fill the gap.
Related terms
Mid-Ocean Ridge: A mid-ocean ridge is an underwater mountain range formed by the upwelling of magma at a divergent boundary, creating new oceanic crust.
Rift Valley: A rift valley is a long, narrow depression that forms when continental lithosphere stretches and thins at a divergent boundary.
Seafloor Spreading: Seafloor spreading is the process by which new oceanic crust is formed at a divergent boundary as magma wells up and solidifies.