shoal
shoal, accumulation of sediment in a river channel or on a continental shelf that is potentially dangerous to ships. On the continental shelf it is conventionally taken to be less than 10 m (33 feet) below water level at low tide. Shoals are formed by essentially the same factors that produce offshore bars. See sandbar.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Citation Information
Article Title:
shoal
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
17 September 2010
Access Date:
November 14, 2026