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More than half the earth’s surface is made up of the deep ocean basins, great expanses of sediment-covered, basaltic crust. The form and structure of these basins is quite different from either that of the continental shelves or the continents themselves. The floor of the world’s oceans, like its continents, has its own character and features; however, these features appear exaggerated when compared to their continental counterparts. The ocean floor contains broad plains that are flatter than those on land, volcanic mountains which are taller, and volcanic mountain ranges which are far more extensive than their continental cousins.