Another great reef

It is almost 1,000 km long, with vivid corals and a wide variety of fishes.

It is almost 1,000 km long, with vivid corals and a wide variety of fishes. And it is not the Great Barrier Reef. Last year, scientists from the US and Brazil stumbled upon a massive coral reef at the mouth of the Amazon river

Bending theories

  • While most of the reefs are in danger due to rising sea temperatures, the Amazon coral reef is pristine, writes John Vidal, Guardian’s environment editor. Recently, scientists explored the reef in submarines
  • They could see a number of new species and the biodiversity was mind-boggling. The reef is unique since there has been no record of coral reefs in the mouths of major rivers. This is because corals thrive only under clear sunlit water. The Amazon reef has been found in muddy waters, prompting scientists to rethink theories

9,300sq km
Area of the Amazon reef system

New threat

The Amazon reef now faces a new threat—oil drilling. Many oil companies including giants BP and Total are preparing to start exploratory drilling near the reef, according to the Guardian. The Brazilian government has already licensed blocks for drilling, with the closest just 10 km from the reef

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com