Earth's Relief, Tectonics, and Spanish Geography Features

Classified in Geology

Written on January 28, 2026 in English with a size of 2.89 KB

Geological Terminology Definitions

Below are definitions for key terms related to the Earth's structure and relief:

Relief: Relief refers to the variations in elevation of the Earth's surface.
Fault: Faults occur when the crust is rigid and fractures. Some blocks sink while others rise.
Tectonic Plates: According to this theory, the Earth's crust is made up of plates which float on the top layer of the mantle.
Subduction Zone: A subduction zone is the area where the crust is destroyed when two plates collide.

The following describes the major forms of oceanic relief:

Continental Shelf
The continental shelf is a large plateau that surrounds a continent, reaching a depth of 200 meters.
Continental Slope
The continental slope leads down from the continental shelf to the abyssal plain.
Abyssal Plain
Abyssal plains are vast, flat areas of the deep ocean floor, typically found at depths of 3,000–7,000 meters.
Mid-Ocean Ridges
Mid-Ocean Ridges are long mountain ridges that are found on the abyssal plains.
Ocean Trenches
Ocean trenches are long, deep cracks in the ocean floor.

A summary of major geographical features found on the map of Spain:

Note: This list includes the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, which are not islands.

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