Scientists from the National Geographic Society recently discovered a huge coral hidden beneath the waters of the Solomon Islands in the Pacific: the largest coral ever observed.
This impressive underwater coral measures 34 meters long and 32 meters wide, surpassing in size even the blue whale, which is the largest known animal. This discovery was announced to the public on Thursday, November 14, accompanied by astonishing photos illustrating its scale.
From the water surface, this coral appears as just a massive shadow in the turquoise ocean. But as they explored the depths, researchers revealed an impressive structure that, although relatively plain, has a unique beauty: a vast, mostly brown block, dotted with touches of red, pink and blue.
Unlike the traditional image of brightly colored corals, this formation rather evokes an imposing rock that sea currents have sculpted over the centuries.
This coral is home to approximately a billion interconnected polyps, forming a complex living structure that has survived centuries of evolution. Estimated to be around 300 years old, it has seen major historical events, such as the industrial revolution, the two world wars, the emergence of the internet, and even the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, it faces a new, insidious and increasingly worrying enemy: climate change.
What makes this coral particularly remarkable is its ability to hold up where most coral reefs fail. Currently, about three-quarters of the world’s corals are experiencing bleaching, a process caused by warming waters and ocean acidification that ultimately kills the polyps.
“A pillar of life”
However, this giant coral appears to benefit from better protection, in part due to its location in deeper, cooler waters. Scientists see its survival as a sign of hope: “An ever-present pillar of life!”they said, seeing it as proof that some corals can still resist, at least temporarily, the impacts of climate change.
This discovery also highlights how nature still contains many mysteries to be elucidated. This coral, which had remained unnoticed for three centuries before the eyes of the inhabitants of the Solomon Islands, had probably been mistaken for a simple rock, due to a lack of equipment to dive and explore it up close.
It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of scientific curiosity and exploration: although researchers have already documented nearly two million living species, it is estimated that at least eight million species still remain to discover. Nature continues to have many surprises in store for us.
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