Continental Shelf

The submerged margins of continental mass extending from the shore to the first prominent
break in slope usually at a depth of about 120m.
Continental shelf occupies about 7.6 % of the ocean floor.
Continental shelves are well known for oil and natural minerals deposits.
Coral reefs and bio classic materials are also common on continental shelf.
They are important geopolitically.
The Arctic Ocean has the widest continental shelf in the world, the east coast of Pacific Ocean
has the narrowest continental shelf and the Atlantic Ocean continental slope has a gentle
slope.

Continental Slope

The slope that extends from a continental shelf down to the ocean deep. Its slope varies from
2o to 5o (70 m per km).
Continental Slope occupies about 8.5% of the total area of oceans.
Continental slopes are characterised by submarine canyons.