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Coral Sea Facts

Coral Sea Facts
The Coral Sea is located off Australia's northeast coast in the South Pacific. It extends a total of 1,200 miles down the northeast coast of Australia and it is classified as an interim Australian bioregion. To the west of the Coral Sea is Queensland. To its east is Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. To its northeast is reaches eastern New Guinea. The Coral Sea merges with the Tasman Sea, Soloman Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. The Coral Sea covers an area of 1,850,000 square miles and has an average depth of 7,854 feet. The maximum depth of the Coral Sea is 29,990 feet.
Interesting Coral Sea Facts:
The Coral Sea contains many reefs and islands.
The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest reef system, is contained within the Coral Sea. The Great Barrier Reef is so large that it can be seen from space. It is also considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
The Coral Sea has a stable, warm climate but is subjected to tropical cyclones.
It is believed that the Coral Sea's basin formed as far back as 58 million years ago. It formed as the Queensland continental shelf rose and formed the Great Dividing Range.
Seismic activity is still resulting in geological formation in the Coral Sea.
The Coral Sea is so large that it is four times as big as Great Britain.
Moat coral reefs around the world have suffered major losses due to pollution and industry and traffic in the water. The Coral Sea's reefs have not suffered the same devastation are still thriving.
One of the most significant aircraft carrier battles during World War II took place in the Coral Sea. It is referred to as the Battle of the Coral Sea. It took place on May 7th and 8th, 1942.
The Coral Sea shore along Australia's coast is mostly sand.
The islands of the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea are known to have more than 2,000 species of plants.
The Coral Sea is home to sponges, worms, anemones, lobsters, crayfish, crabs, and prawns.
The Coral Sea is home to 30 or more species of porpoises, whales, and dolphins. Some of these include the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, the humpback whale, and the dwarf minke whale.
There are six species of sea turtles found in the Coral Sea's Great Barrier Reef including the Olive Ridley, flatback turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, hawksbill turtle, green sea turtle, and the leatherback sea turtle.
There are at least 200 bird species that visit the shores of the Coral Sea including the roseate tern and the white-bellied sea eagle.
There are 17 sea snake species found in the Coral Sea including the world's most venomous sea snake - the Aipysurus duboisii.
The Coral Sea is home to more than 1,500 species of fish including the coral trout, red-throat emperor, and the clownfish.
There are many shark species found in the Coral Sea, some of which are dangerous to people. Species of shark include the silvertip shark, great hammerhead, and tiger shark, among many others.


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