Water Distribution and Landforms Vocabulary Part 3

A narrow passage of water connecting two larger areas of water.

• Strait

• Bay

• Fjord

• Gulf

A long, narrow passage of sea between high cliffs.

• Fjord

• Bay

• Gulf

• Strait

A large area of ocean that is usually deep inland and mostly surrounded by land. It has a narrower opening into the sea and is larger than a bay.

• Gulf

• Fjord

• Strait

• Bay

A large body of water partly surrounded by land but still with a wide opening into the sea. It is smaller than a gulf.

• Bay

• Strait

• Fjord

• Gulf

The steep slope where the continental shelf drops to the bottom of the ocean floor and the depth of the ocean increases greatly.

• Continental slope

• Continental shelf

• Mid-ocean ridge

• seamounts

Underwater volcanic mountains at the bottom of the ocean that divides the ocean floor into two parts.

• Mid-ocean ridge

• Seamounts

• Rift Zones

• Trenches

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Undersea volcanic mountains not formed on the mid-ocean ridge.

• Seamounts

• Mid-ocean ridge

• Rift Zones

• Trenches

A narrow trench in the center of the highest part of the mid-ocean ridge.

• Rift Zone

• Seamounts

• Trenches

• Abyssal Plain

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Steep-sided canyons and deep, narrow valley in the bottom of the ocean.

• Trenches

• Rift Zone

• Seamounts

• Abyssal Plain

A flat or gentle sloping, smooth area of the ocean floor.

• Abyssal Plain

• Trenches

• Rift Zone

• Mid-ocean ridge

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3