Source: wikibot/isostasy
= Isostasy
{wiki=Isostasy}
Isostasy is a geological concept that describes the state of gravitational equilibrium between the Earth's lithosphere (the rigid outer layer of the Earth) and the underlying asthenosphere (a semi-fluid layer of the upper mantle). According to the principle of isostasy, the Earth's crust "floats" on the denser, more fluid mantle beneath it, much like an iceberg floats in water.