Interactive exploration of the continental shelf, focusing on its shallow depth, gentle gradient, and the thick layers of sediment that cover the underlying bedrock.
Learn MotionWhy Oceans Don't Drain Into the Ground
The Continental Shelf and Slope
The Shallow Shelf: A Sedimentary Seal
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Let's zoom in on the continental shelf. This area extends from the shoreline out to the edge of the continent. It is relatively shallow and has a very gentle slope. Crucially, the seafloor here is not bare rock. It is covered by thick layers of sediment—sand, silt, and clay—that have washed down from the land over millions of years. These sediments fill the cracks and pores of the underlying rock, effectively sealing it.
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