Where are corals found?
Corals are found all over the world in shallow, tropical waters as well as on the deep, dark ocean floor. Shallow water reef-building corals have adapted to warm water and rely on being close to sunlight for their survival. Other corals come from the deep sea and survive in cold waters without sunlight. The corals used in tropical fish tanks and as home décor primarily come from shallow water environments. Most precious corals used in jewelry come from the deep seas of the Mediterranean and Pacific Ocean. The Hawaiian Islands have 410,000 acres of living reef in the main islands alone, more than the landmass of O‘ahu. Q: What’s special about Hawaii’s coral reefs? A: Hawaii’s coral reef ecosystem, because of its isolation, has more than 1,250 unique species of marine life that can be found only on Hawaii’s reefs. Over 25% of all marine life is endemic to Hawai‘i and scientists are finding new species regularly. The majority of the nation’s coral reefs are found around the Northwestern H
