The Earth’s crust is made up of the continents and the ocean basins. Oceanic crust, which consists of basaltic rock, is thinner and denser than continental crust, which contains granitic rock; because of this, the continents rise above the oceans. Living in York, England, Marcia Malory is a Freelance Science writer. Visit to know more facts about the earth and you may also like our Facebook Page - .