Indonesian Archipelago Holds About 15 Percent Of The World’s Coral Reefs
Indonesian Coral Reefs
Indonesia’s 17,500 islands compose the largest and most varied archipelago on earth and span more than 3,100 miles from Asia to Australia. The country is more than 80 percent water, which includes more than fifty thousand miles of coastline – equal to nearly one-third of the earth’s circumference. This vast coastline offers more coral reefs than any other place in the world. Indonesia lies in the middle of the Indo-Pacific basin. This region extends from the Indian Ocean waters off East Africa all the way to the Hawaiian and Marquesas islands in the South Pacific. Trench is a term used to describe the seam of two tectonic plates deep under the oceans in the area. An upheaval along such a trench caused the December 26, 2004, Indian Ocean earthquake and the deadly tsunami that killed thousands of people throughout the region.
The central area, the waters around the Indonesian and Philippine islands, is the least known of the region’s oceans, and much more scientific work must be done. In tropical waters, where the temperature and salinity are right, corals have blossomed into massive gardens, with an amazing variety of forms and colors. The seas surrounding the Indonesian archipelago are considered an integral part of the nation, as evidenced in the country’s patriotic phrase “tanah air kita,” which literally means “our home, water, and land.” The seas have been a unifying force between the diverse cultures and peoples throughout the archipelago, since many Indonesians are dependent on the bounty of the seas. Fish, shellfish, pearls, seaweed, and shells are only a few of the treasurers found in Indonesia’s vast waters.
Indonesia has more coral reefs than any other place on earth. They are fed by rich nutrients in the ocean currents. These islands hold about 10 to 15 percent of the world’s coral reefs, many of which are still unknown. There are more than five hundred species of coral throughout these islands, including some of the most colorful species on the planet.
These waters are home to three thousand species of fish and thirty species of whales and dolphins. The Sulawesi Sea is the equivalent of a highway for sperm whales, dolphins, and other large marine life, such as sea turtles and manta rays. There are more species of fish, coral, and other marine life found in Indonesian waters than in any other country. Indonesia has an astounding array of marine life and some of the most spectacular diving in the world. Unfortunately, it is disappearing fast, due to human activity, including fishing with dynamite and cyanide.
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