Final answer:
Ice shelves are mainly found in Antarctica, where the Ross Ice Shelf and Ronne Ice Shelf are the most notable examples. These enormous ice formations are essential for global sea levels as they help to slow the flow of glaciers into the ocean.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ice shelves are most commonly found on the landmasses surrounding the South Pole, particularly in Antarctica. The continent features the two largest ice shelves, the Ross Ice Shelf and the Ronne Ice Shelf, which are situated at opposite ends of the Transantarctic Mountains. While the surrounding Southern Ocean influences the formation and maintenance of these ice structures, the continent's unique geography, including the presence of mountain ranges like the Ellsworth Mountains in West Antarctica, plays a crucial role in the development and stability of these massive bodies of ice.
The Antarctica Ice Sheet is an essential component of the global climate system, and the floating ice shelves around the continent play a significant part in its balance. Ice shelves act as gatekeepers, slowing the flow of inland glaciers into the ocean. Without them, sea levels worldwide could rise dramatically.
Due to their location in the cold, polar environment, and their scale, these ice shelves are the most extensive and thick in the world. For example, in 1986, a massive iceberg measuring 160 km by 40 km and 250 m thick broke away from the Ross Ice Shelf, underscoring the dynamic nature of these frozen platforms.