"Scientists Map World's Largest Deep-Sea Coral Reef off US Atlantic Coast"

Scientists have mapped the largest deep-sea coral reef, spanning millions of acres off the Atlantic from Florida to South Carolina, which is bigger than Vermont. The reef, known as "Million Mounds," is mainly made up of stony coral and is not threatened by coral bleaching but is still affected by climate change. This discovery was made possible through the use of multi-beam sonars and new technology, allowing researchers to create 3D images of the ocean floor. The reef, which is too deep for scuba diving, relies on filter-feeding and is biologically different from shallow-water reefs. While deep-water reefs don't face coral bleaching, they are still impacted by changing water temperatures and ocean acidity due to climate change.