Here's why:

* Divergent boundaries are where tectonic plates move apart.

* At the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the North American and Eurasian plates (and the South American and African plates further south) are pulling away from each other.

* This separation allows magma from the Earth's mantle to rise up, creating new oceanic crust. This process is called seafloor spreading.

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a prime example of a divergent boundary and the powerful forces that shape our planet.