The correct answer is D) the difference between the heights of high and low tide. The range of the tide refers to the vertical distance between the highest high tide and the lowest low tide at a given location. This is the difference in water height between high and low tide, not the duration of time between tides (A), the distance the tide moves out from the shore (B), or the maximum depth of the water at high tide (C). The range of tide is an important measurement in coastal navigation and operations, as it indicates the extent of tidal fluctuations that vessels and activities must account for.