Largest deep-sea coral reef to date is mapped by scientists off the US Atlantic coast

Scientists have mapped the largest coral reef deep in the ocean, stretching hundreds of miles off the US Atlantic coast...

While researchers have known since the 1960s that some coral were present off the Atlantic, the reefs size remained a mystery until new underwater mapping technology made it possible to construct 3D images of the ocean floor...

The largest yet known deep coral reef has been right under our noses, waiting to be discovered, said Derek Sowers, an oceanographer at the nonprofit Ocean Exploration Trust...

Deep coral reefs provide habitat for sharks, swordfish, sea stars, octopus, shrimp and many other kinds of fish, the scientists said.. Tropical reefs are better known to scientists and snorkelersbecause theyre more accessible..

Sowers said its possible that larger deep-sea reefs will be discovered in the future since only about 75% of the worlds ocean floor has been mapped in high-resolution..

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