65 



out the limitations of technical management in the various portions 

 of the estuarine zone, and show the realities of nature within which 

 the managing political entities must work. 



CONTINENTAL SHELF 



The submerged land next to the continent slopes gently to a depth 

 of about 600 feet, then it drops more rapidly to form the deep ocean 

 basins (see fig. IV.1.1). This fringe of slightly sloping submerged 

 land, which along much of the Atlantic and gailf coasts would appear 

 quite flat to the naked eye, is called the Continental Shelf, and its 

 width and general configuration along the coastline of the 

 United States is one of the offshore conditions affecting the estuarine 

 environment. 



The large ocean waves lose much of their energy in the relatively 



FIGURE IV.1.1 MAJOR OCEAN CURRENTS AFFECTING THE UNITED STATES 



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Continental Shelf 



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