Continental Margins

Image of Smithsonian.Mapping icon.The Smithsonian is one of your sponsors in your journey to map the ocean floor. As a requirement of the grant they have given you, the Smithsonian has requested that you create an illustration of what you find.

For this assignment, you will create a map of the continental margin showing all of its major features. Your map should include the following features:

  • Continental shelf
  • Shelf break
  • Continental slope
  • Continental rise
  • An example of a submarine canyon

Your map should be well-organized and colored or shaded to indicate the different regions. Make sure that you provide a title for your map and label each of the geographic features clearly. Before you begin, access the Continental Shelf Map Checklist to make sure you have included all of the items required for full credit. You may need to use resources outside of this course to complete this assignment. If so, please submit a Works Cited document. If you need assistance, visit the Developmental Module for information on citing any resources that you use.

Options to create your map include the following:

  • Hand-draw the assignment and then take a picture of it for submission to the assignment’s dropbox.
  • Hand-draw the assignment and then scan it for submission to the assignment’s dropbox.
  • Use a paint or graphics program to create the assignment.

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Once you have completed your map, please submit your completed work to the course dropbox.