The vibrant and amazing underwater kingdom of Egypt is famous throughout the world. Divers from different countries keep photos and memories of diving in the Red Sea and say that they saw corals of rare beauty in Egypt.
All the riches of the Red Sea are the national treasure of Egypt. By causing harm to fauna or flora, you can run into a large fine or other serious punishment.
Near many hotels, corals are very close to the shore. There are many types of them - about 150. They come in different colors and shapes - round, flat, with branches. By the way, colored corals are always alive, and dead coral reefs have a white tint.
What are corals
Corals belong to the class of invertebrates. Coral polyps live at great depths in warm waters, their food is plankton. They are able to live in the sea if the temperature is above 20 degrees. In addition to reefs, you can find coral islands - large accumulations of coral skeletons.
The best corals in Egypt
There are places to visit in Egypt to admire the best corals. These include, for example, South Sinai, Ras Mohammed National Park with three diving areas or Shark Reef, an underwater mountain whose top is visible above the water. It is famous for its sheer wall where you can observe the best species of corals - saucer, gorgon and cabbage corals. Daedelus Reef and the Marsa Alam resort are also famous for their corals - hotels on this coast are proud of their virtually untouched coral kingdom, which allows you to see a wide variety of marine life. This area of Egypt is home to a popular diving school.
Also famous coral reefs are Abu Dabbab, Shaab Samadai, Shaab Sharm and others.
The most beautiful and interesting reefs are found in the following places in Hurghada:
- the Small Giftun Nature Reserve with coral gardens;
- Abu Ramada Hulk with a sheer wall and underwater caves;
- reefs of El Fanadir and Carless.
In Sharm el-Sheikh, the bays of Ras Um Sid and Sharks Bay can be distinguished. In addition, in Egypt you can go on an excursion to the coral islands - Tiran Island, Cheeky Island, Brothers Island.
Egypt hotels with coral reefs
In Hurghada, not all hotels have a coral reef next to the beach. The best hotels where you can admire the corals are Iberotel Makadi Beach, Carols Makadi Resort, Magic Life Kalawy Imperial.
But almost all hotels in Egypt located in Sharks Bay are famous for their beautiful coral reefs.
Coral danger
The main danger lies in coral sponges. They are poisonous and you can get health problems after touching them, including fever.
On most beaches in Egypt you need to wear special shoes - safety slippers, sold everywhere - in shops, shops, supermarkets. Swimming is easy and safe in these slippers. To avoid trouble, follow these recommendations.
- Don't step on the coral - you may slip or get hurt.
- Do not touch them - the sponges will immediately release arrows with poison.
Only souvenirs made from shells and corals are allowed to be exported from Egypt. You must keep the receipt issued upon purchase.
It is strictly prohibited to export live sea corals from the country. You shouldn’t even pick up something on the shore - only purchasing souvenirs is legal.
Coral reefs are the largest and most magnificent living structures on our planet, the greatest repositories of biological formations. Although today, unfortunately, they are in danger of extinction. Scientists have estimated that if immediate measures are not taken to correct the situation, we risk losing up to 70% of all coral reefs by 2050.
Let’s hope that people will still be able to preserve our oceans, including coral reefs, in the form they are today, and our descendants will be able to admire their magnificence not only from pictures in books, but also in person.
We invite you to take a look at our selection of coral reefs, which are considered the most beautiful and fantastic on Earth.
Coral reefs of the Red Sea
The Red Sea is home to more than 260 different species of stony corals and over 1,100 species of fish. This sea is located between the Sahara and the Arabian deserts. The Red Sea coral reef is over 1,200 miles long. Its age exceeds 5000 years. They began to emerge during the reign of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs.
Coral reefs of the Florida Keys
The shallow waters of the Florida Keys provide ideal conditions for the creation of beautiful coral reefs. These corals were formed due to the warm tropical climate under the influence of waves. There is a lot of plankton here, which is necessary for the survival of various species of living beings. Unfortunately, these reefs are on the verge of extinction and, according to some sources, by 2020 they may completely die.
Mesoamerican Barrier Reef
The Caribbean Sea is home to many species of fish and rare animals. It borders one of the world's largest and most beautiful coral reefs. Its size is approximately 943 kilometers. This reef is also subject to various threats: changes in sea level and ocean chemistry.
For many years, in the area of the Philippine coral reef of Apo, active fishing took place to catch all living things, including the use of incendiary substances. As a result, a third of the coral reef has completely disappeared. The Philippine government has decided to ban fishing in an area of 170 square miles off the coast of the island of Mindoro. Today Apo Reef is a National Park and Conservation Area.
Andros in the Bahamas is considered one of the longest barrier reefs in the world (its length is more than 140 miles). Divers have the opportunity to explore many interesting areas within these reefs. The island of Andros, near which this reef is located, is located along the edge of an ocean chasm called the Tongue of the Ocean.
Maldives Chagos-Lakshadwhil atolls
This structure is a chain of coral reefs that is 280 km long. These reefs are located along the coast of Belize, approximately 300 meters from the coast in the northern part and 40 kilometers in the southern reaches of the country. The Belize Barrier Reef is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which is one of the largest reefs in the world (2nd after the Great Barrier Reef).
The name “Raja Ampat” itself means “4 kings”. The four major islands of Batanta, Misuul, Salwati and Waigeo, which are connected to hundreds of smaller islands, surround these coral reefs. This Indonesian coral reef is rich in wildlife. There are more than 1,500 species of fish, about 700 species of shellfish and more than 500 species of stony corals.
Barrier Reef of New Caledonia
This is the third largest coral reef and is also considered one of the most magnificent in the world. This is where the endangered dugong lives and where green turtles lay their eggs. The place near the reef is famous for its clear waters. The lagoons of this barrier reef are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
This reef extends over approximately 130 thousand square miles. That's bigger than the United Kingdom. The Great Barrier Reef is undoubtedly the world's largest coral reef. Moreover, it is even the largest object created naturally from living organisms. It is considered one of the seven wonders of the world.
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Coral reefs are calcareous organogenic geological structures. They mainly consist of corals, which are formed with the help of small sea animals. An individual coral, also called a polyp, is cylindrical in shape with an exoskeleton. Exoskeletons give each polyp a hard, rock-like external body. Corals produce calcium carbonate from their bodies. Because the corals remain motionless, individual polyps cluster together. They form colonies that allow them to secrete calcium carbonate and form new reefs.
Corals depend on algae and in turn, the algae find shelter in coral reefs. Live corals and algae form closest to the surface of the water on top of older, dead corals. They secrete limestone during their life cycle, which helps develop reefs. Because corals require algae to survive, they are more common in calm, shallow, clear waters where there is sufficient sunlight.
Coral reefs form in waters dominated by warm ocean currents, which largely limits their distribution to no more than 30° N. w. and Yu. w. It develops rapidly along the reefs, making them one of the most diverse in the world. Overall, coral reefs attract nearly a quarter of the world's living species.
Types of Coral Reefs
Fringing reef off the coast of Eilat (Israel)
Some coral reefs take thousands of years to form. During this time, they can develop into several different forms depending on the location and surrounding geological features. There are 4 main types of coral reefs:
- Fringing (shore) reefs consist of platform-like coral rocks. They are usually associated with, or are located close to the shore, separated by a semi-enclosed lagoon with deeper water.
- Barrier reefs extend along the island or continental shallows, in the warm waters of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, at a distance of several to tens of kilometers from the coast. The width of barrier reefs is hundreds of meters. The distance between the reef and the shore is filled with a lagoon. The largest barrier reef on Earth is about 2000 km long, located off the eastern coast of Australia. Barrier reefs also sometimes extend above the surface of the water.
- Atolls are ring reefs that completely cover the lagoon. The lagoons inside the atolls are more brackish than the surrounding seawaters and often attract fewer species than the surrounding coral reef.
- Intralagoonal reefs(patch reefs) form on shallow areas of the seafloor separated by deeper water from adjacent fringing and barrier reefs.
Functions of coral reefs
Coral reefs have several different functions. They help prevent sediment from washing away and damaging shorelines. Coral reefs act as a physical barrier that helps create healthier, more protected habitats near the coast. They also capture carbon dioxide, which helps create marine conditions. Coral reefs also have economic benefits for nearby communities. They are collected for the production of medicines and jewelry. Exotic species of fish and marine plants are caught for keeping in aquariums. Also, the magnificent underwater life of coral reefs attracts tourists from all over the world.
Environmental threats to coral reefs
Many coral reefs are experiencing a phenomenon known as bleaching, in which the corals turn white and die after the algae disappear. The bleached coral weakens and eventually dies, leading to the death of the entire reef. The exact cause of the bleaching remains unclear, although scientists speculate that it may be directly related to changes in sea temperatures. Global climate events such as El Niño and climate change have increased the temperature of the world's oceans. Following El Niño events in 1998, approximately 30% of coral reefs were permanently lost by the end of 2000.
Sedimentation also threatens coral reefs around the world. Although they only form in clean waters, soil erosion due to mining and agriculture/forestry causes rivers to carry sediment to the ocean. Natural vegetation, such as growing along waterways, acts as a barrier to precipitation. due to the construction and development of settlements, the amount of precipitation in the sea increases.
Pesticides also enter the ocean through agricultural runoff, which increases the amount of nitrogen in the sea, causing corals to become sick and die. Negligent management practices such as overfishing and uncontrolled coral mining also disrupt fragile marine ecosystems.
Coral reef conservation and restoration
One suggestion for saving coral reefs is to care for them like a garden. Introducing plants to remove sediment and excessive algae growth can help temporarily keep coral reef ecosystems in balance. Reducing pesticide runoff from fields can also help reduce nitrogen levels in the sea. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions from human activities can improve the overall health of coral reefs.
Oceans and seas are the heritage of humanity, since not only do most of all species of living beings known (and unknown) to science live in them. In addition, only in the gloomy depths of sea waters can one sometimes see such pictures, the beauty of which can sometimes simply stun even the most indifferent person. Look at a coral reef and you will see that nature is many times greater than the creation of any talented artist.
What it is?
Coral reefs are colonies of corals that sometimes form truly gigantic formations, similar in size to rocks.
Note that true corals that can form reefs are Scleractinia, belonging to the class Anthozoa, phylum Cnidaria. Single individuals form giant colonies of polyps, and calcareous colonies of older individuals provide support for the development and growth of young animals. Contrary to popular belief, polyps are found at all depths, not just in shallow water. Thus, the most beautiful black coral lives at such a depth that not a single ray of sunlight penetrates.
But a true coral reef can only be formed by those species that live in the shallow waters of tropical seas.
What reefs are there?
There are three main types of them: fringing, barrier and atoll. As you might guess, the fringing species is found in shallow waters near the coast. The most impressive formations are the barrier reefs, which look like a breakwater. They are located along the coasts of continents or large islands. As a rule, they are very important. Firstly, millions of species of living beings find refuge there, and secondly, these formations play an important role in shaping the climate of the region, obstructing ocean currents.
The largest and most famous is the Great Barrier Reef, which stretches for 2000 km, forming the eastern edge of the Australian mainland. Its other less significant and larger “relatives” are located along the coast of the Bahamas, as well as in the western part of the Atlantic.
Atolls are small ring-shaped islands. Their coastline is protected by coral reefs, which form a natural barrier that prevents strong tides and ocean currents from washing away the fertile layer from the land surface. Where do reefs come from, what is the mechanism of their formation?
The emergence of coral reefs
Since most polyps require a relatively shallow water environment, the ideal location for them is to have a small and flat base, preferably located near the coast. However, many scientists believe that the conditions under which the formation of a colony of polyps is possible are much more diverse.
Thus, many atolls, by all indications, should have arisen on the tops of old volcanoes, but traces of really high lava formations that could fully confirm this theory have not been found everywhere. The famous scientist Charles Darwin, traveling on the equally famous Beagle ship, was engaged not only in the formation of an evolutionary view of the development of mankind. Along the way, he managed to make many discoveries, one of which was an explanation of how the world of coral reefs arose.
“Reef” theory of Charles Darwin
Let us assume that a volcano that arose in ancient times gradually grew in size due to lava that entered the external environment as a result of numerous eruptions. As soon as about 20 meters remain from the ocean surface, optimal conditions will arise for the top of the underwater mountain to be populated by corals. They begin to quickly expand the colony, gradually completely modifying the primary relief that arose after the eruptions.
When a young coral reef reaches a volcano, the upper part of which has almost collapsed by that time, it begins to gradually sink back into the ocean. As you dive, the corals begin to grow more intensely, and therefore the reef begins to become even more massive, remaining at approximately the same level in relation to the surface of the water.
Dynamic theory of formation
Sand begins to accumulate near the reef, most of which are the skeletons of the corals themselves, ground up by erosion and some species of sea creatures. There are more and more shallows, and the reef eventually begins to protrude above the surface of the ocean, gradually forming an atoll. suggests that the elevation of the colony of polyps above the surface of the water occurs due to constant changes in the level of the World Ocean.
Many geologists and geographers of that time immediately became interested in this theory. If it is correct, then every large coral reef should have contained at least some remnants of a volcanic core.
Is the volcanic theory of the origin of reefs true?
To test this, a test drilling was organized on the island of Funafuti in 1904. Alas, the technologies that existed at that time made it possible to reach a depth of only 352 meters, after which work was stopped, and scientists were never able to reach the supposed core.
In 1952, the Americans began drilling in the Marshall Islands for the same purpose. At a depth of about 1.5 kilometers, scientists found a layer of volcanic basalt. It has been proven that the coral reef was formed more than 60 million years ago, when a colony of polyps settled on the top of an extinct volcano. Darwin was right once again.
How reefs changed during periods of falling sea levels
It is known that the ocean at different periods reached one hundred meters. The current level stabilized only six thousand years ago. Scientists believe that 15 thousand years ago the sea level was at least 100-150 meters lower than today. Thus, all the coral reefs that formed at that time are now located 200-250 meters below the modern edge. After this mark, the formation of polyp colonies becomes impossible.
In addition, often former coral reefs (photos are in the article), which were formed in even more ancient periods, are also found on the current land. They were formed at a time when the ocean level was at its highest, and there were no ice caps at the earth's poles yet. Note that between the ice ages, polyps did not actually form any significant colonies, since the water level changed too quickly.
Egypt is especially indicative in this regard. Coral reefs in the Red Sea are sometimes found at enormous depths, which several million years ago were the bottom of ordinary shallow seas.
Main components of a coral reef
To understand exactly how a polyp colony works, let’s take the coast of Jamaica as an example. In any photo of a classic atoll, you can first see a sand spit rising steeply from the depths. The dark stripes located parallel to the atoll are traces of coral destruction that occurred at different times due to fluctuations in ocean levels.
Sailors determine this zone by the breakers: even at night, the sound of the surf, which is heard long before the shore appears, warns of the presence of reefs. After the protected area there is a plateau where the corals are exposed at low tide. Oddly enough, in the water area of the lagoon the depth increases sharply, colonies of polyps in this area are not so developed, and during low tide they continue to remain under water. The area near the shore that is constantly exposed during low tides is called the intertidal zone. There are few corals there.
The largest and most branched corals grow on the outer edges that face the open ocean. The highest concentration of marine life is observed in the littoral area. By the way, who can you meet when visiting a coral reef? The underwater world of Egypt and other popular tourist countries is so rich that your eyes will run wild! Yes, you cannot deny the richness of fauna in these places.
The underwater world of coral reefs
As scientists say, the Great Barrier Reef alone (which we have already talked about) is home to almost two thousand species of fish! Can you imagine how many worms, sponges and other invertebrates live there?
The most colorful inhabitants are the amazing coral reef fish - parrots. They got their name from a specific type of “beak”, which is a modified jaw plate. The jaws of these “parrots” are so strong that they can easily tear off and grind entire blocks of coral.
Since polyps are not very high in calories, these fish have to constantly eat. In a year, one population can destroy several tons of corals. Their digested remains are released into the external environment in the form of sand. Yes, yes, “parrots” play an important role in the formation of amazingly beautiful beaches of snow-white coral sand.
Recognizable and colorful inhabitants of these places are also hundreds of species. Their natural enemies sometimes become the culprits in the destruction of the reefs themselves. Thus, the Crown of Thorns star, which arrived on the Australian coast from another hemisphere, has already destroyed almost 10% of the entire Barrier Reef! Because of this, oceanographers and ichthyologists around the world have declared a real war on it: the stars are caught and destroyed.
The measures taken still have a certain effect, and therefore today the underwater world of Australia is beginning to recover.
Coral reefs are calcareous organogenic geological structures formed by colonial coral polyps and some types of algae that can extract lime from sea water.
Coral reefs are fantastically beautiful and the most “densely populated” ecosystems of the World Ocean. The biomass of benthic invertebrate animals and fish in them is estimated at hundreds of grams per square meter of the seabed. The total number of species on coral reefs can reach or exceed one million.
The reef ecosystem owes such a vibrant life to single-celled algae (symbiont algae) living in corals, whose photosynthetic activity does not stop throughout the year.
The first corals on Earth, tabulates, appeared in the Ordovician period of the Paleozoic era approximately 450 million years ago. Together with stromatoporid sponges, they formed the basis of reef structures.
Throughout the history of their existence, corals have repeatedly experienced periods of decline and mass death - the climate has changed, and the level of the World Ocean has repeatedly risen and fallen. But neither the changing climate, nor the decrease or increase in sea level led to the complete and final death of reef-forming corals - they adapted to new conditions. A balanced reef ecosystem has great restoration potential.
In 1997-1998, there was an anomalous increase in the temperature of the surface waters of the tropical zone of the World Ocean, which led to mass death of corals in vast areas of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Then, in the coastal areas of Bahrain, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Singapore and near Tanzania, up to 95% of all corals in shallow reef zones died. In other tropical coastal zones, 20 to 70% of corals suffered the same fate. In the early 2000s, the tragedy repeated itself twice, especially affecting the central and southern parts of the Pacific Ocean, and by the mid-2000s, according to scientists, slightly less than half of the previously existing reefs remained on Earth.
But not in all reef areas the situation is so catastrophic. For example, in the Maldives, coral cover has been completely restored due to the rapid growth of acroporids (acroporal corals), whose growth reaches 20-25 cm per year.
A different picture is observed in the area of Bahrain and Sri Lanka, where the reefs were under very strong anthropogenic pressure.
Thus, it is not sharp climatic fluctuations, but a high level of anthropogenic pressure that leads to fatal consequences for this ecosystem.
What are coral reefs?
Coral reefs are massive deposits of calcite (limestone) formed from the skeletal remains of some colonial marine organisms - plants and animals - among which madrepore corals and coralline algae stand out. In addition to these two dominant groups of reef-forming organisms, the composition of reefs also includes a significant share of other species of animals and plants - mollusks, sponges, foraminifera and some green algae.
There are three main types of interconnected coral reefs: fringing, barrier and atoll.
Fringing or coastal reefs
Located along recently drained or stable coastlines. Such a reef is a terrace-like platform at or slightly below sea level, extending from the shore and often ending in a raised edge, heavily indented by channels, from which the slope of the reef goes quite steeply under the water, and then abruptly ends to great depths. Corals grow fastest on the outer slope of the reef and very slowly on the shallow platform.
Barrier reefs
They often surround individual islands, but are located some distance from the coast, separated from it by a strait or a calm, medium-deep lagoon. The largest and most famous is the Great Barrier Reef, a complex reef system stretching over 1,600 km along the east coast of Australia.
Atolls
Ring-shaped reefs surrounding lagoons, within which there are no land areas. They are ring-shaped with an internal shallow lagoon; ring-shaped with one or more ring breaks through which tidal waters enter the lagoon; in the shape of a half ring, quarter ring or ring-shaped, filled during high tides; or in the form of giant rings consisting of individual small atoll-like reefs fringing huge lagoons.
Types of corals
In general, hard corals that form a reef can be divided into branching, fragile corals (madrepore corals) and massive, rocky corals (brain and mendrin corals). Branching corals are usually found on shallow, flat bottoms. They are colored blue, lavender, purple, red, pink, light green and yellow. Sometimes the tops have a contrasting color, for example, green branches with purple tops.
Brain corals can reach more than 4 meters in diameter. They live at greater depths compared to branched ones. The surface of brain corals is covered with winding crevices. The predominant color is brown, sometimes in combination with green. Dense pores form a kind of bowl, the base of which consists of dead corals, and living ones are located along the edges. The edges grow, increasingly increasing the diameter of the bowl, which can reach 8 m. Living porite colonies are colored pale lilac, the tentacles of the polyps are greenish-gray.
At the bottom of bays, individual mushroom-shaped corals are sometimes found. Their lower flat part fits tightly to the bottom, and the upper part consists of vertical plates converging in the center of the circle. Mushroom coral, unlike branching and massive hard corals, which are colonies, is an independent living organism. Each such coral contains only one polyp, the tentacles of which reach a length of 7.5 cm. Mushroom corals are colored greenish and brownish. The coloring remains even when the polyp retracts its tentacles.