The ocean floor may be segmented into three major divisions based on the depth as well as the forms of relief. These divisions are:
(i) Continental margins
- Form transitional zone between continental shore and deep sea basins
- They include continental slope , shelf, continental rise and deep oceanic trenches
(ii) Abyssal plains
- Extensive plains
- Found between continental margin and mid oceanic ridge
- Continental sediments get deposited
(iii) Mid-oceanic ridges
- Distribution of volcanoes and earthquakes
- All volcanoes and earthquakes are parallel to the coast
- This line also co-incides with mid- Atlantic ridge and Alpine Himalayan system
- Around the Pacific Ocean it is called ring of fire mid oceanic ridges.
