What Is The Largest Coral Reef In The World?
As the name implies, the Great Barrier Reef, located off Australia’s East Coast is the largest coral reef in the world. This enormous reef is over 2023 kilometers (1257 miles) long and covers more than 300,000 square kilometers (about 186,000 miles). Home to more than 1500 species of fish, dolphins, whales and sea turtles, the Great Barrier Reef is actually a collection of more than 3000 smaller reefs. The second largest reef lies off the coast of Belize, in Central America.
As the name implies, the Great Barrier Reef, located off Australia’s East Coast is the largest coral reef in the world. This enormous reef is over 2023 kilometers (1257 miles) long and covers more than 300,000 square kilometers (about 186,000 miles). Home to more than 1500 species of fish, dolphins, whales and sea turtles, the Great Barrier Reef is actually a collection of more than 3000 smaller reefs. The second largest reef lies off the coast of Belize, in Central America. Top of Page What Are The Main Types Of Coral Reefs?
A coral is a small sea creature, related to jellyfish and sea anemones, that secretes a hard, stony substance to form its skeleton. The skeletons left behind by colonies of these creatures can eventually form islands or long ridges called coral reefs. One reef, or series of reefs, is so large that its more like a small continent
