The Coral Reefs

1. Which one of the following types of coral reefs are developed along th

Which one of the following types of coral reefs are developed along the edges of continental shelves and separated by lagoon ?

Patch reefs
Fringing reefs
Barrier reefs
Atoll reefs
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2024
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Coral reefs develop in different forms. Fringing reefs grow directly from the coastline. Barrier reefs are separated from the coast by a lagoon, which can be quite wide and deep. Atoll reefs are ring-shaped reefs enclosing a central lagoon, often formed around submerged volcanic islands. Patch reefs are isolated, small reefs. The description “developed along the edges of continental shelves and separated by lagoon” best fits the definition of Barrier reefs.
– Fringing reef: directly attached to the coast.
– Barrier reef: separated from the coast by a lagoon.
– Atoll reef: ring around a lagoon.
– Patch reef: isolated reef within a lagoon or platform.
Coral reefs are underwater ecosystems built by colony-forming corals. They are found in warm, shallow, clear marine waters. The Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia is the world’s largest barrier reef system.

2. The largest barrier reef system in the world is found at

The largest barrier reef system in the world is found at

East Australian Coast
West Australian Coast
North Australian Coast
South Australian Coast
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2020
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The largest barrier reef system in the world, the Great Barrier Reef, is found off the East Australian Coast.
The Great Barrier Reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland in northeastern Australia. It stretches for over 2,300 kilometers.
While the option “East Australian Coast” is general, the reef is specifically located in the northeast. However, among the given options, “East Australian Coast” is the correct geographical area distinguishing it from the west, north, or south coasts where such a large barrier reef system is not found.

3. Which one among the following is not a coral reef island?

Which one among the following is not a coral reef island?

Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Rainbow Reef, Fiji
Swaraj Island, India
Kyushu Island, Japan
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2020
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Kyushu Island, Japan, is not a coral reef island. It is one of the four main islands of Japan, primarily formed through volcanic and continental processes.
Coral reef islands are formed from the accumulation of coral skeletal remains and other organic materials over geological time. Examples include atolls and cays.
The Great Barrier Reef (Australia) is the world’s largest coral reef system, containing numerous coral cays and islands. Rainbow Reef (Fiji) is a famous barrier reef system with associated islands. Swaraj Island (Havelock Island) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is known for its beautiful beaches and surrounding coral reefs, but the island itself is not solely a coral formation; it is part of a volcanic arc. Kyushu, however, is a large, geologically diverse continental island.
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