Coral reefs are found in warm, shallow and clear waters of tropical oceans all around the world. They are extremely beautiful, diverse and productive. Today coral reefs are highly endangered mostly due to human activities.
- Coral reefs are massive limestone structures that occupy only 0.7% of the ocean floor but provide shelter for over 25 percent of all marine life.
- Although coral is often mistaken for a rock or a plant, it is a living organism composed of tiny, fragile animals called coral polyps.
- Coral reefs provide protection for harbors and beaches from heavy wave action caused by coastal storms.
- They are responsible for building the largest biological structure on earth -- the Great Barrier Reef.