Which of the following have coral reefs?
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Gulf of Kachchh
- Gulf of Mannar
- Sunderbans
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
- Most of the world’s coral reefs are located within the tropical zone between 30º N and 30º S latitude.
- Coral reefs require specific conditions for growth, such as a preferred temperature range of 22° to 30° C and a maximum depth of 200m.
- They can only survive in saline waters with an average salinity of 27 to 40%.
- More than one-third of the world’s coral reefs are located in Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
- The Pacific and Indian Oceans are the most common locations for coral reef growth due to their shallow, warm, and clean waters.
- India’s coral reefs are found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Gulf of Kutch, the northwest coast of Gujarat state, Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea off the southwest coast of Kerala, the Gulf of Mannar in the southeast of Tamil Nadu, and Palk Bay in southeast India.
- The Sundarbans in the Bay of Bengal is famous for its unique mangrove forests.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
