lagoon: Quick Facts

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Gippsland Lakes

Tuamotu Archipelago: Fakarava island

The Hotel Zone, which sits on a former barrier island facing the Caribbean Sea, is linked by causeway to the city of Cancún, Mex. The calm blue water of Nichupte Lagoon is on the left.

A three-part diagram shows the formation of a coral atoll: first, a volcanic island with a surrounding coral reef; next, the island sinks as the coral reef grows upward; finally, the island disappears below the surface, leaving a ring-shaped atoll of coral with a central lagoon. Both top and side views are provided for each stage.

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Boundary ecosystem coral-reef lagoon barrier island lagoon Haff coastal lagoon river lake canals and inland waterways Wetland ocean gulf Bog estuary Swamp waterfall

water glass on white background. (drink; clear; clean water; liquid)

Water and its Varying Forms