A coral reef running roughly parallel to a coastline but separated from it by a substantial lagoon, typically representing a later stage of reef development than a fringing reef as the island or coast behind it slowly subsides. Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest, is the type example most often cited for this landform.
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Shaped By
Source Coral reef (Wikipedia)
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Coral reef (Wikipedia)
Shaped By: Sea Level Change, Formation statement for target 287776Quote, Shaped By: Sea Level Change, Formation statement for target 287776
Most coral reefs were formed after the Last Glacial Period when melting ice caused sea level to rise and flood continental shelves.
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