Download Features on Sea Floor

Earth’s Features (part 2)
Some Features Found on the
Ocean Floor
Typical Sea Floor Features
• Continental Shelf – a shallow underwater ledge
located between a continent and the deep ocean.
• Continental Slope – a steep slope of the ocean
floor between the Continental Shelf and the
bottom of the ocean.
• Abyssal plain – large flat area on the sea floor –
also makes up a large part of the sea floor.
• Deep Sea Trench – a long, narrow, deep
depression in the sea floor. Many occur around
the Pacific Ocean due to Subduction.
• Rift – an opening in the oceanic crust where molten
lava from the mantle can escape.
• A rift is caused as the oceanic plates spread apart.
• Repeated eruption of molten lava over time often
results in the formation of an Ocean Ridge.
• Ocean Ridge – a raised part of the sea floor, which
can become large enough to be considered an
underwater mountain range. The Juan de Fuca
Range off the west coast of BC is one example of an
ocean ridge.