Which features typically characterize a divergent boundary?

Divergent boundaries are characterized by tectonic plates moving apart from each other. This movement is primarily observed along the ocean floor, where new oceanic crust is created as magma rises from underneath the Earth's mantle. The key feature associated with divergent boundaries is the formation of mid-ocean ridges. These ridges are underwater mountain ranges that form as magma cools and solidifies, creating new crust in the spaces that emerge between the diverging plates.

Mid-ocean ridges not only signify the signal of new crust formation but also often feature volcanic activity due to the movement of magma towards the surface. This ongoing process results in the continuous expansion of the ocean floor, making mid-ocean ridges a defining characteristic of divergent tectonic activity. Understanding this process helps in recognizing how divergent boundaries fundamentally shape the geological features of our planet.