Maro Reef facts for kids
Maro Reef is a huge coral reef found in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. In the Hawaiian language, it's called Nalukākala, which means "surf that arrives in combers" (big ocean waves). This special reef is mostly underwater, like a giant underwater garden.
It was discovered in 1820 by a sea captain named Joseph Allen. His ship was called the Maro, and that's how the reef got its name! Maro Reef is really big, covering about 1,935 square kilometers (747 square miles). This makes it the largest coral reef in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It's home to 37 different kinds of stony corals.
What makes Maro Reef unique is how its coral grows. Instead of forming a solid ring like most atolls, the coral branches spread out from the center, looking a bit like the spokes of a bicycle wheel. Maro Reef is about 1,368 kilometers (850 miles) northwest of Honolulu, Hawaii. It has only a tiny bit of land, about 4,000 square meters (1 acre), which can even disappear under the water when the tides are high. Some scientists worry that the reef might be "drowning" because its coral parts are separate and can be easily damaged by strong ocean storms.
Ship Incidents at Maro Reef
Maro Reef, being mostly underwater, can be dangerous for ships. Over the years, a few ships have run into trouble there.
The Mission San Miguel Incident
On October 8, 1957, a ship called the USNS Mission San Miguel (T-AO-129) ran aground on Maro Reef. The ship was traveling at full speed and was empty at the time. It ended up sinking after hitting the reef.
Dowsett Reef Shipwreck
South of Maro Reef is another spot called Dowsett Reef, sometimes known as Dowsett's Rock. On May 14, 1900, a sailing ship named McNear sank there. Luckily, all 33 people on board survived. They used small boats to sail to Laysan Island, which is another island in the Hawaiian chain.
