• What are continental shelves?

Question

• What are continental shelves?

Answer 1

It is a submerged part of the continent that is fairly low relief (i.e., fairly flat) under the ocean that drops off abruptly into the ocean depths.  For example, along the east coast of North America, the water is relatively shallow until you get some miles out and then it drops off to become very deep.  This "shelf" under the ocean parallel to the coast is the "continental shelf".

If you look at map of the ocean floor the continental shelf is obvious.