Features of the Ocean Floor

Continental Margins

As one travels away from the continents, water depths increase in a systematic manner.

Closest to the continents are continental shelves with water depth typically less than 1000 m. Continental shelves were formed as rivers carried tons of particles of sand and soil from the land out to sea. This sand and soil then settled as layers of sediments, or layers of particles of rock and animal remains.

Commonly at the distal edge of the continental shelves, there is a marked continental slope where water depths increase quickly. The continental slope separates the continental shelf from the ocean floor.

The continental rises, located at the base of the continental slopes, mark the beginning of the deep ocean basins.

Submarine canyons commonly occur along continental margins and transport sediment from the margins down into the deep ocean basins.

B. Mid Ocean Ridges

Long mountain...
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