Barrier reef off Grande Terre, New Caledonia, France
© Karsten Wrobel/Getty Image
Under the sea. World Reef Awareness Day
'Life under the sea is better than anything they got up there,' Sebastian the crab once told Ariel. But are we doing enough to protect that underwater world? On June 1, we celebrate World Reef Awareness Day, a time to recognise the beauty—and fragility—of coral reef ecosystems. One magnificent example is the New Caledonian barrier reef, which wraps around Grande Terre, New Caledonia's largest island. At over 930 miles long, it's one of the longest continuous barrier reefs in the world. Its vast 9,300-square-mile lagoon is home to over 2,300 fish species, endangered dugongs, green sea turtles and migrating humpback whales.
However, reefs like this face growing threats—from pollution, mining runoff, rising ocean temperatures and even harmful sunscreens. Increased tourism can also strain these fragile ecosystems. This World Reef Awareness Day, commit to reef-friendly choices: use reef-safe sunscreen, reduce plastic waste and support conservation efforts in your community or online.
Related Images
Gaztelugatxe islet, Basque Country, Spain
Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, Central Pacific Ocean
Atolls in Indian Ocean, Maldives
Banyak Islands, Sumatra, Indonesia
Blue Lagoon, Grindavík, Iceland
Bay of Biscay in the Basque Coast Geopark near Bilbao, Spain
The Needles chalk pinnacles and lighthouse on the Isle of Wight.
Omijima Island in Kita-Nagato Kaigan Quasi-National Park, Japan
Bing Today Images
