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Saudi: Massive coral colony discovered on Al-Waqadi Island
A 600-year-old coral colony measuring more than 10 meters in height has been discovered south of Al-Waqadi Island, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Red Sea Development Company told SPA that the discovery, by its team of marine scientists and environment experts, was the first of its kind in the Red Sea region.
The age of the coral reefs was estimated by measuring the size and number of rings that grow annually on the colony’s outer structure, in addition to the presence of giant redwoods. The colony is a historical reference to past centuries and, through the scientific reading of the coral reefs’ rings, scientists will be able to know the ocean temperature in previous years as well as its chemical composition at that time.
