Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary
Encyclopedia
Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary is one of the largest near shore live-bottom reefs in the southeastern United States
. The sanctuary, designated in January 1981, is located 17.5 nautical miles (32.4 km) off Sapelo Island
, Georgia
, and is one of 13 marine sanctuaries that make up the U.S. National Marine Sanctuary System.
Within the 17-square-nautical-mile (58 km2) sanctuary, there are both rocky ledges and sandy flat places. The reef's rock ledges, submerged beneath 60 to 70 feet (18 to 21 m) of water, can be as tall as 6–8 feet and are highly complex — they have nooks and crannies and bumps and plenty of places for invertebrates to latch on to and for fish to hide in. Together these animals form a dense carpet of living creatures that in places completely hides the rock. That gives the habitat of Gray's Reef its common name — a "live bottom".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The sanctuary, designated in January 1981, is located 17.5 nautical miles (32.4 km) off Sapelo Island
Sapelo Island
Sapelo Island is a state-protected island located in McIntosh County, Georgia. The island is reachable only by airplane or boat, with the primary ferry coming from the Sapelo Island Visitors Center in McIntosh County, Georgia, a seven mile , twenty-minute trip.Approximately 97 percent of the...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and is one of 13 marine sanctuaries that make up the U.S. National Marine Sanctuary System.
Within the 17-square-nautical-mile (58 km2) sanctuary, there are both rocky ledges and sandy flat places. The reef's rock ledges, submerged beneath 60 to 70 feet (18 to 21 m) of water, can be as tall as 6–8 feet and are highly complex — they have nooks and crannies and bumps and plenty of places for invertebrates to latch on to and for fish to hide in. Together these animals form a dense carpet of living creatures that in places completely hides the rock. That gives the habitat of Gray's Reef its common name — a "live bottom".
External links
- Official NOAA website: Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary