Coral reef taller than Empire State building found in Australia

NEW DELHI: A vast, detached coral reef has been discovered in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the first in more than 120 years. At 500m (1,640ft) high, the reef is taller than New York’s Empire State Building and the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


Scientists on a 12-month mission found the structure, detached from the Great Barrier Reef off Cape York, last week. They were conducting 3D mapping of the sea floor in the area. The blade-like reef is about 1.5km long and at its highest point, is about 130 feet below the ocean surface.