The continental slope is the steeply inclined section of the continental margin that descends from the edge of the continental shelf to the continental rise. It marks the true edge of the continent, where the continental crust transitions to the oceanic crust. The study of continental slopes is crucial for understanding sediment transport, submarine landslides, and the dynamics of ocean currents.
Reference: Menard, H. W. (1964). Marine Geology of the Pacific. McGraw-Hill.