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The coral reef has five main zones. These are based on its exposure to the ocean waves. Going seaward from the shore, the lagoon zone is the open water that separates reef from land. The lagoon does not feel the impact of the ocean waves as it is protected by the reef. This zone has animals such as sea urchins, flounders and sea turtles. The next is the reef flat zone that slopes gently from the lagoon to the reef crest. This area has mud, sand, grass and clumps of coral that were tossed or broken by storms. Seaweeds may grow here in plenty. The reef crest, as the name suggests, is the highest part of the reef. This is where the waves break. Corals such as Elkhorn corals grow in plenty here. There is also a buttress zone which has a rugged area of buttresses. This zone helps to slow down the force of the waves and also drains sediments off the reef into deep water. The reef front or fore-reef is the next zone, the farthest zone from the land. This zone may slowly descend like a wall into deeper water. Sponges, sea whips, sea fans, and non-reef-building corals are found in the deep waters. |
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