Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems held together by calcium carbonate structures secreted by corals. These corals are unable to move and clusters with other corals so they form colonies. Coral reefs vary in size, type and location and they are very sensitive organisms. They want clear and hot waters. That’s why all coral reefs are located in the tropical places.

Today coral reefs are endangered by human. The greatest treat are the fishermen. Many coral reefs in South China Sea are endangered and this has to stop. Look at these great photos of the 10 largest coral reefs and lets increase the awareness to help coral reefs.

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Length: 1,553 miles (2,500 km)
Location: Coral Sea near Australia

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Image by eutrophication&hypoxia via Flickr

Acropora coral garden, Big Broadhurst Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Image by Richard Ling via Flickr

Red Sea Coral Reef

Length: 1,180 miles (1,900 km)
Location: Red Sea near Israel, Egypt and Djibouti

Diving at Habili Ali, St John's reefs, Red Sea, Egypt

Image by Derek Keats via Flickr

Continental Garden Reef Resort, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt

Image by Dmytro Kochetov via Flickr

New Caledonia Barrier Reef

Length: 932 miles (1,500 km)
Location: Pacific Ocean near New Caledonia

Récif de l'Annibal, New Caledonia

Image by J Brew via Flickr

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef

Length: 585 miles (943 km)
Location: Atlantic Ocean near Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras

Coral-Reefs-of-South-Water-Caye-Belize-630x459

Photo by Tony Rath

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By U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Florida Reef

Length: 200 miles (322 km)
Location: Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico near Florida

Pete's Reef, Islamorada, Florida

Image by Rafael Robayna via Flickr

Andros Coral Reef

Length: 124 miles (200 km)
Location: Bahamas between the islands of Andros and Nassau

Andros Coral Reef, Bahamas

Image by Sean Nash via Flickr

Zhongsha Islands (Macclesfield Bank)

Length: 50 miles (81 km)
Location: South China Sea

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Credit: Hughes et al. Current Biology

Saya De Malha

Area: 15,444 square miles (40,000 sq km)
Location: Indian Ocean

Saya De Malha, Indian Ocean

Image source

Great Chagos Bank

Area: 4,633 square miles (12,000 sq km)
Location: The Maldives

Constance Moofushi Resort, Maldives

Image by faiyu Shafyq via Flickr

Reed Bank

Area: 3,423 square miles (8,866 sq km)
Location: South China Sea, claimed by the Philippines

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA

Image by Storm Crypt via Flickr