🌊 Just beneath the waves of the Atlantic, a colossal secret has been unveiled! Scientists have mapped the largest deep-sea coral reef ever discovered, stretching hundreds of miles off the U.S. Atlantic coast. 🐠🐙
Since the 1960s, researchers knew some coral existed in the depths of the Atlantic, but no one imagined the sheer scale of this underwater wonder. Thanks to cutting-edge 3D mapping technology, the ocean floor has revealed its hidden treasure. 🗺️✨
The largest yet known deep coral reef has been right under our noses, waiting to be discovered,
said Derek Sowers, an oceanographer at the nonprofit Ocean Exploration Trust. Alongside scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Sowers published detailed maps of the reef in the journal Geomatics.
This massive reef extends about 310 miles (499 kilometers) from Florida to South Carolina and reaches up to 68 miles (109 kilometers) wide in some areas. To put that in perspective, it's nearly three times the size of Yellowstone National Park! 😲🌍
It's eye-opening—it's breathtaking in scale,
remarked Stuart Sandin, a marine biologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, who wasn't involved in the study.
Found at depths ranging from 655 feet to 3,280 feet (200 meters to 1,000 meters), this reef thrives in complete darkness. Unlike their tropical cousins basking in sunlight, these deep-sea corals filter food particles from the water to survive. 🍴🌌
The reef isn't just coral; it's a bustling habitat for a variety of marine life—sharks, swordfish, sea stars, octopus, shrimp, and so much more! 🦈🐡🦑
While tropical reefs like Australia's Great Barrier Reef (which stretches about 1,430 miles (2,301 kilometers)) steal the spotlight, this discovery highlights the vast and mysterious world beneath our oceans. With only about 25% of the world's ocean floors mapped in high-resolution, who knows what other wonders await us? 🌐🔎
Both deep and tropical reefs face challenges like climate change and human disturbances. Erik Cordes, a marine biologist at Temple University and co-author of the study, emphasizes the importance of understanding and protecting these vital ecosystems. 🌱💙
So next time you gaze out over the ocean, remember there's a whole hidden world beneath the surface, waiting to be explored! 🌊✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
