What feature is formed by the process of seafloor spreading?

Seafloor spreading is a geological process that occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where tectonic plates are moving away from each other. As the plates diverge, magma from the mantle rises to fill the gap, solidifying to form new oceanic crust. This process creates underwater features known as ocean ridges.

Ocean ridges are characterized by their elevated topography and are typically surrounded by symmetrical patterns of older oceanic crust on either side. The formation of these ridges is integral to the theory of plate tectonics and is a fundamental aspect of how the Earth's surface is continuously reshaped.

In contrast, mountain ranges are typically formed by different processes, such as the collision of continental plates. Deep sea trenches are formed by subduction, where one plate is forced beneath another, and continental shelves are extensions of the continent submerged underwater, not directly related to the formation mechanisms of seafloor spreading.