Why is the English Channel considered one of Europe’s shallow seas?

The English Channel is considered one of Europe’s shallow seas because it covers the continental shelf of the continent. Its depth is remarkably shallow, with an average depth that decreases from 400 feet (120 metres) at its western mouth to 150 feet (45 metres) toward the Strait of Dover in the east.1

While the seafloor is generally flat, it features some variations, such as the Hurd Deep, which contains the channel's greatest depth of 565 feet (172 metres). However, these depths remain shallow in comparison to the open ocean, and the eastern portion of the channel is particularly shallow, with depths ranging from as little as 6 to 160 feet.2