Coral Sea

The Coral Sea is a marginal sea of the southwestern Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and the Great Barrier Reef. It contains extensive coral reefs and was the site of a major 1942 naval battle.

Great Barrier Reef: The world’s largest coral reef system, extending along northeastern Australia. This vast reef system occupies the Coral Sea’s western margin.
Battle of the Coral Sea: A major naval battle fought between Allied and Japanese forces in May 1942. The battle took place across this sea and halted Japan’s advance toward Port Moresby.
Pacific Ocean: Earth’s largest ocean, extending between Asia, Australia, and the Americas. The Coral Sea is a marginal sea within its southwestern part.
Marine protected area: A geographically defined ocean area managed to conserve marine ecosystems and resources. Protected zones cover large parts of the Coral Sea and regulate human activities.
Coral reef: A marine ecosystem built primarily from calcium carbonate structures produced by corals. Reefs throughout the sea provide habitat and shape its shallow waters.
Coral Sea Islands: A group of small islands and reefs in the Coral Sea administered by Australia. These remote features are the sea’s principal Australian island territories.
Tasman Sea: A marginal sea of the southwestern Pacific between Australia and New Zealand. It lies south of the Coral Sea along Australia’s eastern ocean boundary.
Coral bleaching: The loss of symbiotic algae from coral, often caused by heat stress. Marine heatwaves threaten the Coral Sea’s reefs through widespread bleaching.
Coral Sea Plateau: A broad submarine plateau in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Its underwater terrain underlies much of the sea’s central region.
Coral Sea Marine Park: A large Australian marine protected area in the Coral Sea. Its protected waters conserve reefs, deep-sea habitats, and migratory species.

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