It’s Alive!

While exploring the Pacific Ocean near the Solomon Islands last fall, a team of scientists spotted what they thought might be a shipwreck. But when divers swam closer, they were in for a surprise: The “shipwreck” was the largest single coral ever found.

Coral is a living structure made up of the bodies and skeletons of tiny sea creatures called polyps. And this one, known as a mega coral, is immense. It’s about 111 feet wide, 104 feet long, and 18 feet tall. That’s roughly as wide as two regulation-sized basketball courts set side by side, and longer than a blue whale!

Scientists estimate that the mega coral is at least 300 years old. But it escaped notice because it lies deeper than most corals and is in a remote location.

“This is a significant scientific discovery, like finding the world’s tallest tree,” says Enric Sala, a conservationist and National Geographic explorer whose team made the find.

The Solomon Islands is a nation of more than 1,000 islands. That nation and five others are in a region of the Pacific known as the Coral Triangle. About 600 reef-building coral species live there.

Corals are home to a rich variety of sea life. That makes the newfound giant precious to Solomon Islanders who rely on fishing for food and trade. It’s a sign of hope that this coral is thriving when many of Earth’s corals have been suffering from the effects of climate change.

Preserving the mega coral—and corals around the world—is crucial, says Jeremiah Manele, prime minister of the Solomon Islands. “Our survival depends on healthy coral reefs, so this exciting discovery underlines the importance of protecting and sustaining them for future generations.”

—Kathy Wilmore