Jim McMahon/Mapman®
Scientists were diving near the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean. At first, they thought they had spotted a shipwreck. As they swam closer, the hulking form on the seafloor came into focus. It was a massive coral—bigger than a blue whale!
Coral is a living structure made of the bodies and skeletons of tiny sea creatures called polyps. Collections of corals, called coral reefs, are home to many sea creatures. This discovery, known as a mega coral, is 111 feet (34 meters) wide and 18 ft (5 m) tall. Scientists think it’s at least 300 years old.
“This is a significant scientific discovery, like finding the world’s tallest tree,” says Enric Sala. He’s on the team that found the coral.