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The top of the reef, about 300 meters long, is 40 meters below the surface of the water. Scientists who discovered this coral reef commented that it is still developing.
The deepest corals are estimated to be around 20 million years old and were found by researchers at Falkor, a seabed mapping vessel operated by the Schmidt Ocean Institute last week. The research unit was founded by US philanthropist Wndy Schmidt and her husband Eric, a former CEO of Google.
The structure is a “detached” reef located on the ocean floor and a separate piece from the main body of the nearby Great Barrier Reef. “There’s a thriving coral community at the top,” said Robin Beaman of James Cook University, who led the study.
The new structure is located between 7 different reefs mapped in the 19th century. However, the marine ecosystem at the top of the newly discovered reef looks more vibrant than the others. It is also claimed that such a discovery has been made in this region for more than 120 years. “When we reached the top of the reef, we also found a large population of fish and a healthy population of sharks,” the researchers said. they said.
Autonomous coral reefs can act as seamounts. They also benefit from the development of unique marine species. After finding the coral peak, the team dived using an underwater robot.
The reef is located on the northeastern coast of the country, about 250km south of Cape York. The highest level of the structure is 200 meters, which is sufficient for photosynthesis of the coral reef. During the last ice age, parts of this newly discovered coral reef would have been in much shallower or exposed water, as ocean levels were 100 meters lower than today.
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