The submerged outer edge of a continent, made of granitic crust; includes the continental shelf and continental slope.

• A. Continental Rise
• B. Abyssal Plain
• C. Bathymetry
• D. Continental Margin

Answer: (D)

The submerged outer edge of a continent that includes both the continental shelf and the continental slope is the continental margin. This feature sits on granitic continental crust, distinguishing it from oceanic crust. The continental margin runs from the shoreline down to where the deep ocean floor begins, and it comprises two main parts: the continental shelf, a relatively gently sloping area extending from the coast to the shelf break, and the continental slope, a steeper descent that leads toward the deep ocean. Beyond the slope you may find a continental rise formed by accumulated sediments, and then the abyssal plain farther out. The other terms refer to different parts or concepts of the ocean floor: the abyssal plain is the deep, flat region beyond the margin; bathymetry is the measurement of ocean depths; and the continental rise is specifically the sediment-covered zone at the base of the slope, not the entire edge.