What is the largest coral reef in the world?

The Great Barrier Reef is recognized as the largest coral reef system in the world. It spans approximately 344,400 square kilometers off the coast of Queensland, Australia, and is composed of around 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. This extensive reef system is renowned not only for its size but also for its biodiversity, hosting thousands of marine species, including various corals, fish, mollusks, and marine mammals.

The reef plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems and supports tourism and fishing industries, making it economically significant as well. Conservation efforts are ongoing to protect the Great Barrier Reef from threats such as climate change, pollution, and overfishing. Understanding its importance and scale helps to appreciate the complexities of marine environments and the need for their protection.

Other options, while notable coral formations, do not match the scale and ecological significance of the Great Barrier Reef. The Coral Triangle, for instance, is a marine area with high species diversity but is not a single contiguous reef system like the Great Barrier Reef.