Definition of Coral Reefs

Coral Reef Definition

• A coral reef is a mound/ridge of living coral, coral skeletons and calcium deposits from other sea organisms that resides in the ocean. Among the organism deposits making up these reefs are algae, mollusks and protozoans. Coral reefs grow upward from the ground floor of the sea, due in part to polyps of new corals cementing themselves to other organisms. These reefs serve as a habitat for a number of fish and other sea life.

Environmental Benefits

• Coral reefs protect shores from erosion by causing large waves to break, thereby losing some of their power before hitting land. This also benefits many of the sea organisms that live in the shallowest of waters.

Locations

• A majority of coral reefs take hold in warm, shallow saltwater, then rise to the surface, typically in the form of a barrier reef, fringing reef or atoll. Warm-water areas such as Australia are notorious for their varieties of coral reefs.

Largest Reef

• The Great Barrier Reef, off the northeastern coast of Australia, is the world's largest coral reef. It extends 1,240 miles along the coastline.

Types of Coral Reefs

• There are many kinds of coral reefs. These include barrier reefs, platform reefs and atolls. Platform reefs are typically found in sheltered seas and reside in deeper water. They are flat-topped with small, shallow lagoon areas. Barrier reefs grow parallel to the coastline but are separated from the coastline by a lagoon. As the reef gets bigger, it grows farther offshore and eventually reaches the edge of the continental shelf. Atolls are rings of coral reef, many of which circle islands. They primarily feature shallow, sandy, sheltered lagoons, with access to the sea available through several open channels. These atolls are actually on the top of submarine mountains, which are remnants of volcanoes.