Scientists find biggest deep coral reef near US Atlantic coast.

Scientists discovered a huge coral reef deep in the ocean that spreads for hundreds of miles off the U.S. Atlantic coast. This discovery was made possible by new underwater mapping technology that allows for the creation of 3D images of the ocean floor.

Derek Sowers, an oceanographer, mentioned that this large deep coral reef was hidden in plain sight until recently. This reef stretches from Florida to South Carolina, covering an area almost three times larger than Yellowstone National Park.

The reef lies in deep waters where sunlight doesn't reach, meaning the coral has to get its food by filtering particles from the water. This deep coral reef is home to a variety of sea life, including sharks, swordfish, and octopuses.

Although tropical coral reefs like the Great Barrier Reef are well-known, deep-sea reefs are less explored due to their inaccessible locations. Sowers believes that there might be even larger deep-sea reefs yet to be discovered since a significant portion of the ocean floor remains unmapped.

Both deep and tropical coral reefs face threats from climate change and disturbances like oil and gas drilling. The discovery of this large deep-sea reef highlights how much of the ocean remains a mystery and the importance of its protection.