Sydney, Nov 15 (IANS) – In an exciting marine discovery, scientists have identified the world’s largest known coral structure in the Pacific Ocean near the Solomon Islands. The coral, located in the Three Sisters island group, measures an impressive 34 meters wide, 32 meters long, and 5.5 meters high, according to Xinhua news agency.
Marine scientists from National Geographic's Pristine Seas team revealed that this coral, which comprises nearly 1 billion individual polyps, is between 300 and 500 years old. Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer in Residence, called the discovery a “significant scientific breakthrough, ” underscoring the coral’s ecological importance and its impressive size.
Initially mistaken for a shipwreck by the exploration team, underwater cinematographer Manu San Félix conducted a 12-meter dive to confirm the structure as a single coral belonging to the species Pavona clavus. The coral, remarkably well-preserved, provides a vital habitat for various marine species, offering shelter and breeding grounds in the biodiverse ecosystem of the Solomon Islands.
However, scientists caution that even remote locations are vulnerable to climate change and human impacts. “There is cause for alarm, ” Sala noted, emphasizing that the coral, despite its size and health, is not immune to rising ocean temperatures and other threats associated with global warming.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele expressed pride in the discovery, emphasizing the need to protect coral reefs and their ecosystems for future generations.