Take a trip to the seaside and you’re sure to bring back fascinating little coral souvenirs. However, the real deal is to dive into the ocean and track down reefs from the deep.
Reefs — fringing, coral or barrier — are simply beautiful. Right from the brain-structures to those that have fish swimming in and out of them, the colourful reefs are a treat for the eyes. What’s more, they are also the most diverse of all marine ecosystems and support a variety of marine life including small fish, prawns, and other sea creatures. They are also referred to as “Rainforests of the sea”.
Fringing reefs are those that grow directly on a shore. One instance of this is the coral reef at Kaloko-Honokôhau National Historical Park in Hawaii. Barrier reefs are separated from a mainland or island shore by a channel or lagoon while atolls are continuous barrier reefs which extend around a lagoon without a central island. Apart from the three principal types of reefs, other types include Patch, Apron, Bank, Ribbon, Table, and Habili.
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest coral reef system in the world and is made up of more than 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands that stretch for over an area of 3,44,400 square kilometres. It is built by tiny organisms known as crystal polyps. Did you know that it can be seen from outer space?
Described as “the most remarkable reef in the West Indies” by Charles Darwin, the Belize Barrier Reef supports over 500 species of fish, hundreds of invertebrate species and several hard and soft coral species. It is a 300-kilometre long section of Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. It is continuous from Cancun on the north-eastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, up to Honduras. It is the second largest coral reef.
The Daedalus Reef in the Egyptian Red Sea has an artificial island with a lighthouse. It was constructed in 1863 and rebuilt in 1931. The reef is a diver’s delight as one can see a variety of fish including hammerhead sharks and corals.
