The Continental Shelf Bordering Florida
adapted from North America by Israel C. Russell
The continental shelf bordering Florida on the east is separated from a similar submarine embankment surrounding the Bahama Islands by a channel. The channel is 56 miles wide and from 200 to 500 fathoms deep. This channel when followed northward becomes shallower and broader. Opposite the Carolina coast it is no longer discernible in the relief of the broad continental shelf. The Gulf Stream flows northward through this Florida channel. The stream flows with a current of from 2 to 6 miles per hour. These conditions are such as to suggest that the channel referred to has in part been excavated by the Gulf Stream.
The Great Bahama Bank, from which rise the low coral-built Andros Islands and a large number of crags and rocks, measures about 360 geographical miles. Throughout its entire submerged portion the water is less than 100, and over much of the area less than 10 fathoms deep. It is invaded and given an irregular shape, however, by a "tongue of the ocean." To the north of the Great Bahama Bank, and separated from it by water nearly 2,000 fathoms deep, is the Little Bahama Bank. This measures 50 by 150 geographical miles, from which rises the low islands known as Great Bahama, Great Abaco, and a multitude of islets and crags. Beneath the water, as is the case also on the greater submarine plateau to the south, there are numerous shoals. Southeast from the Great Bahama Bank, and in a general view to be classed with it, are several other shallow areas in the sea. This area has numerous islands and reefs rising from them. The southeastern terminus of this series of plateaus, the surfaces of which have been built up practically to the level of the surface of the sea, is the Navidad Bank, situated about 50 miles to the north of the eastern end of the island of Santo Domingo (Haiti) and forms the west border of Brownson Deep. The length of the series of banks to the north of the Greater Antilles is about 800, and its average width 120 geographical miles.
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Read the sentence from the passage.
Beneath the water, as is the case also on the greater submarine plateau to the south, there are numerous shoals. Southeast from the Great Bahama Bank, and in a general view to be classed with it, are several other shallow areas in the sea.
Which two words or phrases best help clarify the meaning of the word shoals?
general view
plateau
sea
submarine
shallow areas
