Ocean floors

1. How can we
describe earth’s
features?

2. Features of the ocean floor
Continental shelf
Continental shelf
Is the ocean floor along a
continent’s coast.
(The ocean floor is covered by shallow
water that slowly slopes down)

3. Continental
Slope
The sharp slope at which the
continental shelf ends
Continental Slope

4. Continental rise Is the gentle slope after the
continental slope
Continental rise

5. Abyssal plain
Abyssal plain
A wide flat area on the ocean floor
(Found near mouths of large rivers)

6. Submarine
canyon
Is a steep side valley in a
continental slope.
(Found near mouths of large rivers)

7. Trenches
Deepest part of the ocean floor
(Usually long and narrow)

8. Sea mount
An underwater mountain that rises
from the ocean floor but stops
before it reaches the surface of the
water.

9. Mid ocean ridges Underwater mountain ranges.

10. Rift valley The valley down the center of a mid
ocean ridge.

11. Scientists can tell the depth of the
ocean floor by sending sounds into
the ocean and waiting for the echo
to come back.

13. Underwater vehicle
(To explore ocean floor)