Here's a breakdown:
* Continental shelf: The gently sloping, submerged area extending from the shoreline to the point where the slope becomes steeper. It's relatively shallow and rich in marine life.
* Continental slope: The steeper descent from the shelf edge to the deep ocean floor. This is where the majority of the sediment from the shelf is deposited.
* Continental rise: The gentle, sloping area at the base of the continental slope. It's formed by the accumulation of sediment that has been transported down the slope.
Together, these three features form the continental margin, which is the transition zone between the continents and the deep ocean floor.
