A mother and daughter have discovered one of the largest coral colonies ever recorded at the Great Barrier Reef.
The huge coral structure was found during a public science project and has been measured at about 111 metres long, roughly the length of a Premier League football pitch. Experts believe it may be the biggest documented coral colony in the world.
The discovery was made by Sophie Kalkowski-Pope and her mother, Jan Pope, while diving as part of The Great Reef Census. This project is run by Citizens of the Reef and invites volunteers from around the world to help scientists check the reef’s health.
Sophie said she knew straight away that the coral was something special. Jan described it as looking like a meadow that “just went on and on” beneath the water.
After reporting their find, scientists visited the site to study it more closely. They used special cameras, underwater measuring tools and 3D computer models to map the coral’s size. The colony covers nearly 4,000 square metres, which is about the size of half a football field.
Researchers from the Queensland University of Technology helped measure and record the coral. By creating detailed maps, they can return in the future and compare changes over time.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is now examining the site. Experts say the area has strong water currents and is more protected from large storms, which may have helped the coral grow so big.
