World's largest coral reef discovered in Pacific Ocean

Researchers have discovered the world's largest coral reef in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, Azernews reports.

The reef has a diameter of 32 meters and a height of 5.5 meters. It was discovered by marine scientists from the National Geographic Pristine Seas team near the Solomon Islands.

According to scientists, the coral consists of a network of about 1 billion polyps, and its age is estimated to be between 300 and 500 years. National Geographic researcher Enrique Sala described this discovery as a significant scientific breakthrough. While the team reported that the coral is in good condition, they

warned that it is not immune to the effects of global warming.
Subsequent studies have shown that corals are important refuges and breeding grounds for several species of marine animals.