Download Layers of the Earth

Layers of the Earth
CRUST
5 to 70 km thick
and up to 400° C (interior)
The crust is the thin, rocky,
outer-layer on which we live.
This is the thinnest layer, but
oceans and continents sit on
the crust. The crust is not
solid—it is actually broken
into pieces we call “plates.”
OUTER CORE
2,300 km thick
and 4,000° C to 5,000° C
Located beneath the mantle,
the outer core is hotter than
the mantle. It is so hot that
the iron and nickel that make
up this layer have melted.
This is the Earth’s only liquid
layer.
MANTLE
2,900 km thick
and up to 4,000° C
Located under the crust, the
mantle is the thickest layer
and is divided into two parts.
The upper mantle is gooey,
heated rock moving slowly
under the crust. The lower
mantle is solid.
INNER CORE
2,400 km in diameter
and up to 7,000° C
The inner core is also made of
iron and nickel. This is the
hottest layer. Due to the
extreme heat and pressure at
the center of the Earth, the
inner core is solid.