Passive Margins

Passive margins are the coastal areas where continents transition smoothly into the ocean without significant tectonic activity like earthquakes or mountain-building. They form when a continent rift splits apart, creating a new ocean basin that gradually widens over time. These margins typically feature broad continental shelves, gentle slopes, and deep ocean basins. Unlike active margins associated with tectonic plate collisions, passive margins are relatively stable and accumulate sediments from the continent inland. Examples include the eastern coast of North America and the Atlantic coasts of Africa and South America.