In a stunning discovery, the world’s largest coral has been found thriving in the Solomon Islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean.

It appears that this immense colony of corals could be more than 300 years old.

A videographer on a National Geographic expedition discovered coral in the remote Pacific Ocean.

“I went diving at a place where the map said there was a shipwreck and then I saw something,” said Manu San Felix, a marine biologist and National Geographic explorer. BBC. He described seeing it as an “underwater cathedral”.

“It’s very moving. I felt immense respect for something that stayed in one place and survived for hundreds of years,” he said.

This discovery is enormous, given the severe pressures that ocean warming and climate change are putting on coral reefs around the world.

While a coral reef is a complex ecosystem made up of several coral colonies, this one is a vast network of interconnected coral polyps.

The new coral belongs to the species Pavona clavus. It is home to a diverse community of marine life, such as shrimp, crabs and fish.

This particular coral specimen was discovered in deeper waters and appears healthy. The deep location with cooler temperatures may have protected it from the effects of global warming for years.

“A glimmer of hope”

Researchers call it a “ray of hope” as nearby reefs in shallow waters have been damaged by rising sea temperatures.

“We want the world to know that this is a special place and it needs to be protected,” said Mr Trevor Manemahaga, Minister of Climate of the Solomon Islands. BBC News.

With over 490 varieties of hard and soft corals, the Solomon Islands’ oceans are home to the second highest number of coral species in the world.

A major threat to this mega coral reef It’s logging that pollutes the water.

Logging contributes significantly to the island nation’s economy, accounting for 50 to 70 percent of its annual export earnings.

This centuries-old coral is like a time capsule, offering scientists insight into the past marine environment and the secrets of its growth and survival.

A recent report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) revealed a worrying trend: 44% of warm-water coral species are now threatened with extinction.

This represents a significant increase from 2008, when only a third of these species were considered threatened.

This alarming increase in extinction risk is mainly attributed to global warmingwhich causes an increase in ocean temperatures and leads to coral bleaching events. Other factors, such as pollution, overfishing and disease, also contribute to the decline of coral reefs.