The phenomenon of shelf generation by long nonlinear internal waves in stratified flows is investigated. The problem of primary interest is the case of a uniformly stratified Boussinesq fluid of finite depth. In analysing the transient evolution of a finite-amplitude long-wave disturbance, the expansion procedure of Grimshaw & Yi (1991) breaks down far downstream, and it proves expedient to follow a matched-asymptotics procedure: the main disturbance is governed by the nonlinear theory of Grimshaw & Yi (1991) in the ‘inner’ region, while the ‘outer’ region comprises multiple small-amplitude fronts, or shelves, that propagate downstream and carry O(1) mass. This picture is consistent with numerical simulations of uniformly stratified flow past an obstacle (Lamb 1994). The case of weakly nonlinear long waves in a fluid layer with general stratification is also examined, where it is found that shelves of fourth order in wave amplitude are generated. Moreover, these shelves may extend both upstream and downstream in general, and could thus lead to an upstream influence of a type that has not been previously considered. In all cases, transience of the main nonlinear wave disturbance is a necessary condition for the formation of shelves.