Thanks to NMSF for this:
Scientists discovered the world’s largest coral reef on a National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition to study ocean health in the Solomon Islands.
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation awarded National Geographic Pristine Seas the Conservation Innovation Award at Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2024, which recognizes “a company or foundation for their significant contributions to marine and Great Lakes conservation and the protection of natural and cultural resources through the support of sound science, exploration, policymaking, advocacy, and/or innovation partnerships.”
This record-breaking coral colony is approximately 111 feet wide, 104 feet long, and 18 feet tall. This makes it wide enough to fit two standard basketball courts placed next to each other, and longer than the largest animal in the world, the blue whale. This discovery is so massive that it is visible from space!
While corals may look like larger individuals, they are composed of thousands of smaller polyps. Polyps come together to form coral colonies – when you’re looking at a single coral colony you are actually looking at thousands of animals!
The coral is three times bigger than the previous world record-holder.
