Select the Ocean Basemap (Esri) from the Basemap drop-down menu at the top right. Also select the Regional Bathymetric Contours from the Options drop-down menu. Locate the divergent boundary that runs between the continents of South America and Africa. This boundary is known as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Explore this boundary in the location where the two continents are closest, and zoom in until you can easily read the contour lines on the topographic map. Note that the numbers on the contour lines represent the depth of the ocean floor and are always positive. For example, 7,000 meters is deeper than 3,000 meters. Place your cursor or mouse in various locations along the plate boundary, and read the elevation in the map key at the bottom left. The elevation numbers can be negative, unlike the contour lines, so they will become more negative as the sea floor becomes deeper.

Gather information along this boundary and describe how the divergent motion of theses tectonic plates has shaped Earth’s features along this boundary. Provide evidence to support your answer.