Hear the words “coral reef” and images of bleached, lifeless marine wastelands might come to mind. But oceanographers have recently discovered one particular coral reef in Tahiti that appears to be unaffected by human activity. According to Euronews, the reef, one of the largest ever found, spans three kilometers.
Coral reefs are integral to marine life, as they offer food and shelter. But they have been a ground zero for climate change — warming of the ocean causes coral bleaching and diseases. This particular reef, which sits in deeper water than most, has encouraged scientists that there could be more untouched reefs yet to be discovered.
