Scientists have found the biggest coral ever recorded within the southwest Pacific Ocean and described it as being bigger than a blue whale.
Megacoral, a mix of a number of small, linked creatures that collectively type an organism reasonably than a reef, is probably going greater than 300 years previous, in keeping with BBC.
A cameraman engaged on a Nationwide Geography ship visiting distant components of the Pacific discovered it. The particular person wished to see how they had been impacted by local weather change.
“I went diving in a spot the place the map mentioned there was a shipwreck after which I noticed one thing,” mentioned Manu San Felix.
Moreover, he known as his diving buddy, who can be his son Inigo, and so they dove deeper to examine.
Seeing the coral, which is positioned within the Solomon Islands, was like seeing an “underwater cathedral,” he mentioned.
“It’s totally shifting. I felt an enormous respect for one thing that has stayed in the identical place and survived for a whole bunch of years,” he mentioned.
Utilizing a type of measuring tape underwater, the expedition scientists measured the coral. It turned out to be 34m extensive, 32m lengthy and 5.5m excessive.
As oceans heat with local weather change, corals face extreme pressures globally.
Corals, usually described because the “architects” of the seas, can come collectively to type huge reefs the place fish and different species dwell.
Moreover, in keeping with the World Financial Discussion board, coral reefs additionally assist the livelihoods of 1 billion folks, notably by way of supporting tourism or fishing.
