A massive coral reef spanning 600 miles has been uncovered in the Amazon River in South America. In this new study, an expedition was carried out locating this massive coral structure that was based on 1970s reports of capturing reef fish from the Amazon river's plume.

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The Amazon River system expels a significant amount of water, compared to any other river in the world. Large rivers send an incredible amount of water into the ocean and this can create a rift in any type of coral reef in the river's region, making this new reef an unusual discovery.  

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro scientists along with researchers from the University of Georgia ventured out in the Amazon plume to search for these corals. This is the region where fresh water from the river joins salty waters, becoming absorbed into the world's oceans. This freshwater flow can affect salinity, pH levels and sedimentation of the local marine ecosystem.

According to Patricia Yager from the University of Georgia, down south of the Amazon, there is more light exposure where the living organisms here consist of more reef corals and plants that can photosynthesize food. Upon moving north, this becomes less abundant where the coral reef now transforms into sponges and other similar reef builders, growing food from the plume, which means that the two systems are elaborately connected with each other.

This coral reef at the mouth of the Amazon is truly massive however this is still rather small compared to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia where it spans over 1,400 miles.

This discovery is not only remarkable in itself but it also reveals the rich, hidden ecosystems that thrive on the planet without the knowledge of humans, offering unprecedented views and knowledge about the ocean. 

Even if this hidden reef system has just been discovered, the region is already under threat of human interference and activities. One of the major dangers that this coral reef is facing right now is ocean acidification including offshore oil drills and rapidly warming temperatures.

This new study is published in the journal Science Advances.