Lagoons

Lagoons

Lagoons are a bod of shallow water surrounded by barriers. These barriers can include things such as coral reefs, barrier islands, sand bars, and anything that can protect an area from the outside ocean. There are multiple kinds of lagoons: Coastal, Atoll, and Hapua Lagoons can be found around the world.

Coastal Lagoons

Coastal Lagoons are found surrouding portions of continents and are commonly sheltered by sandbars or barrier islands. Also commonly called estuaries, well-known coastal lagoons such as Pamlico and Albermarle Sound of North Carolina are important transition zones between freshwater rivers and the saltwater oceans.

Atoll Lagoons

Atoll lagoons are formed by upward growing coral reefs. These reefs grow upwards until the point where the only thing showing above water is the reefs themselves.

Hapua

Hapua are a unique type of lagoon that form near riverheads and are primarily composed of fresh water. Common on New Zealand coastlines, Hapua are important to a number of migratory birds and fish.

Locations

There are numerous famous Lagoons throughout the world. One of the most well known would be the Great Barrier Reef Lagoons which are off the coast of Australia. A few other lagoons around the world are the Sounds of North Carolina, the Maldives, and even Venice. There is even one lagoon that appears on the UNESCO World Heritage list, the Reefs of New Caledonia.

Plant and Animal life in Lagoons

-numerous species of fish endemic to lagoon conditions such as in new caledonia

Importance to Coral Reefs

-serve as a nursery area for a number of species

Dangers: Eutrophication

-being near shore, runoff and other human influences lead to eutorophication which destroys the habitat making it unusable for current species