coral lagoon
Tropical enclosed waters
A coral lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from the open sea by a coral reef or ring of coral islands.
The protected waters are typically calm, warm, and turquoise-colored, sheltering diverse marine life.
Atolls form around central lagoons, while barrier reefs create lagoons between reef and shore: We snorkeled in the crystal-clear coral lagoon.
- reefUnderwater rock or coral formation
- barrier reefOffshore coral formation
- turquoiseBlue-green opaque gemstone
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- crystal clearEntirely unambiguous, perfectly understood
shallow · tidal pool · atoll · white sand · sand · paradise · hidden cove · sheltered · snorkeling · sea turtle · tide · palm · palm tree · crystal · azure · island · warm · tropical fish
marine environment type
coral lagoonopen ocean
Sea far from shore
deep sea · high seas · midnight zone · mid-Atlantic · deep sea floor