What is the difference between a reef and an atoll?

Oceans And Seas Questions



57 Short 80 Medium 48 Long Answer Questions Question Index

What is the difference between a reef and an atoll?

A reef is a submerged ridge or platform made up of coral, rocks, or other organic materials found in the ocean. It can be found close to the surface or just below it.

An atoll, on the other hand, is a ring-shaped coral reef or a series of coral islands that encircle a lagoon. Atolls are formed when a volcanic island sinks or erodes over time, leaving behind a circular reef structure with a central lagoon.