The first ‘detached’ reef discovered in more than 120 years has been found in the waters off Cape York in north Queensland, Australia.
It was discovered on October 20, when researchers came across it during a 12-month mapping project of Australia’s oceans. The reef is located about 80 kilometres east of Cape Grenville, which is about 150 kilometres south of the tip of Cape York.
The discovery is described as a detached reef because it is bedded to the ocean floor, meaning it is not part of the main body of the Great Barrier Reef.
The newfound reef is estimated to be 20 million years old at its deepest part, which lies more than 500 metres below the surface of the water. Standing taller than the Empire State
