What is the name of the mid-ocean ridge that runs through the Pacific Ocean?

The mid-ocean rise that runs through the Pacific Ocean is the East Pacific Rise. It is a major divergent plate boundary on the Pacific seafloor, where new oceanic crust forms as tectonic plates move apart.

The East Pacific Rise separates the Pacific Plate from several plates to its east, including the North American, Rivera, Cocos, Nazca, and Antarctic plates. It extends southward from the Gulf of California and joins the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge near 55°S. Some geological descriptions treat that southern continuation as part of the same broader system, which can cause confusion between the two names.

The feature is especially notable for its rapid spreading. Near Easter Island, the rate exceeds 150 millimetres per year, among the fastest seafloor-spreading rates on Earth. The ridge is also associated with hydrothermal vents known as black smokers. Scientists first discovered black smokers along the East Pacific Rise in 1979, revealing ecosystems that rely on chemosynthesis rather than sunlight. Unlike the slower-spreading Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the East Pacific Rise generally has smoother, less elevated terrain.