Divers swimming along the Great Barrier Reef off Australia’s northeastern tip witnessed a sobering sight this week.This area, off the coast of Lizard Island near Cooktown, is considered the most pristine section of the reef. Now, “vast stretches” of the once-colorful organisms have turned “bone white,”
Smithsonian reported. The damage is near total, and similar bleaching has struck areas nearby.“I have never seen coral this heavily bleached,” said Professor Justin Marshall, the head of CoralWatch. “And we are seeing algae growing on parts, which means it has died.”

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