Biology: Reef Types

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Fringing Reef off the coast of Eilat, Israel.

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Fringing Reef

Fringing reefs border a landmass with little space in between.

Barrier Reef

When the landmass that the fringing reef borders begins to submerge or erode, a body of water called a lagoon forms in between the reef and the shore. The fringing reef then becomes a barrier reef. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is an example of a barrier reef (bottom right).

Atoll

When the original landmass completely disappears only the reef remains. This is called an atoll (bottom left).
















Sources: Wikipedia
Pictures: Atoll, Great Barrier Reef.