Reefs Around the World
On the map, the areas in red are the places where coral reefs can be found. Coral reefs are on the equator or near it; they can be found in warm, tropical waters and in oceans. There are three different types of coral reefs: fringing reefs, barrier reefs and coral atolls. Fringing reefs are found along the coast lines in shallow waters. Barrier reefs are separated from the coast by a lagoon; hence the name, they create a barrier between the lagoon and waters. Coral Atolls are corals that grow on top of old dead ones. They surround volcanic islands and when the volcano sinks, the reef still grows on and the reef is the only thing left.