Largest deep-sea coral reef mapped off East Coast: 'Breathtaking in scale'
Scientists have recently discovered the largest coral reef deep in the ocean off the U.S. Atlantic coast. The reef extends over 300 miles from Florida to South Carolina, making it nearly three times the size of Yellowstone National Park.
Mapping the Largest Coral Reef
Thanks to 3D imagery, scientists have mapped the largest coral reef deep in the ocean, stretching hundreds of miles off the U.S. Atlantic coast.
The reef extends more than 300 miles from Florida to South Carolina, marking the total area nearly three times the size of Yellowstone National Park.
Maps of the reef were recently published in the journal 'Geomatics' by nonprofit Ocean Exploration Trust oceanographer Derek Sowers and other scientists, including several at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
An Incredible Underwater Ecosystem
"It's eye-opening — it's breathtaking in scale," said marine biologist Stuart Sandin from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, who was not involved in the study.
The reef was found at depths ranging from 655 to 3,280 feet, where sunlight does not penetrate. Coral at this depth relies on filtering food particles from the water for energy.
Coral reefs play a crucial role in protecting coastlines from storms and erosion, and they provide sources of food and new medicine.
Importance and Economic Value
Over half a billion people depend on reefs for food, income, and protection, according to the NOAA. The net economic value of the world's coral reefs is estimated to be nearly tens of billions of U.S. dollars annually.
Reefs also contribute to local businesses through activities like fishing, diving, and snorkeling, which generate hundreds of millions of dollars.
With only about 75% of the world's ocean floor mapped in high-resolution, scientists believe that even larger reefs may be waiting to be discovered.
