Ocean Floor Features

Front

What is the continental slope?

Back

The descending slope which connects the seafloor to the continental shelf.

Front

What are trenches?

Back

Long, narrow topographic depressions of the ocean floor.

Front

What is a seamount?

Back

An underwater mountain formed by volcanic activity.

Front

What is the continental shelf?

Back

The extended part of each continent that is under water.

Front

What is an abyssal plain?

Back

A flat, deep area of the ocean floor, typically found at depths of 3,000 to 6,000 meters.

Front

What is a guyot?

Back

A flat-topped underwater mountain, typically formed from volcanic activity.

Front

What is the difference between a seamount and a guyot?

Back

A seamount is a submerged mountain that does not have a flat top, while a guyot has a flat top.

Front

What is the oceanic ridge?

Back

An underwater mountain range formed by plate tectonics, where new oceanic crust is created.

Front

What are ocean basins?

Back

Large depressions on the Earth's surface that hold the ocean.

Front

What is the significance of the continental shelf?

Back

It is rich in marine life and resources, making it important for fishing and oil extraction.