Final answer:
The continental shelf is the shallow, submerged extension of a continent. It is a flat part of the continental margin that extends beyond the continent until there is a large change in slope.
Step-by-step explanation:
The continental shelf is the shallow, submerged extension of a continent, located between the shoreline and the shelf break. It is a flat part of the continental margin that extends beyond the continent until there is a large change in slope. The water depth of the continental shelf is generally less than 180 meters (600 feet).