The Coral Sea is considered one of the most beautiful and interesting seas in the Pacific Ocean. Its total surface area is 4791 thousand square kilometers. According to this indicator, it is included in the list of the ten largest seas on our planet. Such an original name is associated with the abundance of coral formations in it. This article will focus on where the Coral Sea is located, its features, climate and inhabitants.
General Description
The water area is located near Australia, south of New Guinea. The sea is separated from the Pacific Ocean by such islands as New Britain, the Solomons and the New Hebrides. Since a significant part of it is located outside the continental shelf, it is deep-sea. The greatest depth of the Coral Sea is 9140 meters. This place is known as the Bougainville Depression and is located near the Solomon Islands. The bottom surface is characterized by a strongly dissected relief and numerous depressions. In addition, the reservoir is characterized by strong differences in depth. In shallow water, the bottom is covered with sand.
The bay of the Coral Sea, which is called Papua, deserves special words. It is located on the southeast coast of the island of New Guinea, being one of the most picturesque and popular among tourists. Its length is about 150 kilometers, and the maximum depth is 969 meters.
Climate
If you look at the map, you can see that the sea lies in the tropical zone, south of the equator. Only a small part of it is located in the subtropics. In this regard, the coast is characterized by a warm climate. The water temperature is stable and averages 29 degrees in the north and 20 degrees in the south. Southeast warm trade winds dominate predominantly over the water area of the sea. Clear sunny weather is here all year round. There is practically no sweltering heat or winter cold. Even in those cases when the thermometer approaches 40 degrees, a person feels quite comfortable thanks to a light breeze. The only exception is the coast of the islands, which were active volcanoes for a very long time.
It is impossible not to note the fact that the region where the Coral Sea is located is a zone of seismic activity. In this regard, over the past century, earthquakes have been repeatedly recorded here. The most powerful of them took place less than ten years ago in the Solomon Islands.
Great Barrier Reef
The main attraction that canboast of the Coral Sea is the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef on the planet, which stretches along the coast of Australia for more than two thousand kilometers. Its width starts from a mark of 2 kilometers in the southern part and reaches 150 kilometers in the north. Between the reef and the continent there is a lagoon, the depth of which is about 50 meters. Scientists have recognized it as a real natural miracle and heritage of mankind. Based on numerous studies, its age is more than ten thousand years. As for the total area of the reef, it is almost 350 thousand square kilometers. According to rough estimates, it consists of 2900 tiny and giant reefs. The Great Barrier Reef also includes many islands in the Coral Sea.
Every year a huge number of tourists from all over the world come to see this natural attraction. Small shoals and small reefs are the most popular. But on the territory of the Great Barrier Reef, there are many protected areas that are protected by law. You can get on them only with special permission.
Corals
The Coral Sea has become a habitat for 400 species of soft and hard corals. All of them boast quite colorful colors that give the water shades of all the colors of the rainbow. As can be seen in numerous photos, thanks to them, in clear weather, the water has an emerald color, which at great depths becomes rich blue and acquires a purple hue. At the same time, one should remember the nuance that the extractedcorals lose their brightness and attractiveness from underwater.
Animal world
According to scientists, about 1,500 species of fish live in the waters of the Coral Sea. Even some species of whales (killer whales and minke whales) are found here. And there are more than 4 thousand species of mollusks here. Among other things, the Coral Sea has become home to some animals no less mysterious than polyps. These include dugongs listed in the Red Book, which are marine mammals from the order of sirens. It should also be noted that six of the seven species of sea turtles known on the planet are found in the local waters. About 240 species of birds live on the shores washed by the sea. It should be emphasized that some of them are found only here, so they need to be protected.
Battle of the Coral Sea
From May 4 to May 8, 1942, one of the largest and most significant naval battles took place in the Pacific theater of World War II. In it, the forces of the allies from Australia and the United States were opposed by the formations of the Japanese imperial fleet. This battle in the Coral Sea was the first clash of aircraft carrier groups in history. Moreover, the crews of the ships did not see the enemy ships and did not fire a single shot at each other. The parties only alternately exchanged air raids. As a result, on the first day, the allied forces managed to destroy the enemy aircraft carrier, while the Japanese sank an American destroyer and a tanker. The next day, the enemy fleets lostone more aircraft carrier, and many ships were badly damaged. After such significant losses of ships and aircraft, both sides retreated.
According to historians, the allied fleet suffered more serious losses, because it lost its main ships. On the other hand, the Australians and the Americans gained a strategic advantage, because for the first time since the beginning of the war, the Japanese offensive was stopped. Moreover, it was largely because of their losses on enemy aircraft carriers that the Allies successfully liberated New Guinea a few months later.
Conclusion
Since 1969, the water area has been a territory of Australia. Nobody lives on the islands. Due to the abundance of coral reefs, navigation in the sea is significantly difficult. As of today, there are a number of environmental and economic restrictions that are associated with the use of its resources. Be that as it may, the coast is flourishing, and the port cities are characterized by rapid growth.
