1. Fringing reefs: These reefs are attached to the shore and grow outwards into the ocean. They are typically found in shallow water and are often associated with mangrove forests.
2. Barrier reefs: These reefs are located offshore and are separated from the shore by a lagoon. Barrier reefs can be very long, such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, which stretches for over 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles).
3. Atolls: These reefs are circular or horseshoe-shaped and are located in the open ocean. Atolls are formed when a volcano sinks below sea level and the coral reef continues to grow around the remaining island.
In addition to these three main types of coral reefs, there are also several other types of coral formations, such as patch reefs, pinnacle reefs, and bank reefs.
