The coral, which exceeds 30 meters in length and is at least 300 years old, is visible even from space, representing a unique example of oceanic diversity.
Researchers have announced a remarkable discovery in the Southwest Pacific: the largest coral in the world, exceeds 30 meters in length and is at least 300 years old, Noi.md reports with reference to .
The expedition was organized to study the state of the oceans in the Solomon Islands, and this impressive coral was discovered during the research. According to specialists, the coral is three times larger than the previous record, discovered in American Samoa, and longer than a blue whale, the largest animal on the planet.
“What is particularly interesting is that this coral is a single organism that has grown continuously for centuries. When we think there is nothing left to discover on our planet, we find a huge coral made up of almost a billion polyps, pulsing with life,” said Enric Sala, National Geopraphic explorer.
Impressed by its colossal size, researchers used satellite images to confirm that this coral is so large that it can even be seen from space. On closer inspection, the coral turns into a natural masterpiece, with a complex network of polyps and shades of purple, yellow, blue and red.
The discovery is a rare piece of good news amid an ocean full of news about environmental degradation. Corals are essential to marine life, providing shelter and food for many species of fish and crustaceans, but also for humans, indirectly contributing to the food security of approximately one billion people.
However, despite its importance, the giant coral is not immune to the threats of climate change. “Even in an isolated location, this coral is not immune to global warming and other human-caused threats,” Sala warned.
This discovery also represents an alarm signal regarding the importance of protecting the marine environment. According to the researchers, this discovery not only gives us hope for the survival of coral reefs, but also highlights the need for rich nations to step up their efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.
