page_title: Fringing reef
section_title: Structure
hierarchical_section_title: Fringing reef / Structure
context_page_description: A fringing reef is one of the three main types of coral reef recognized by most coral reef scientists. It is distinguished from the other main types in that it has either an entirely shallow backreef zone or none at all. If a fringing reef grows directly from the shoreline the reef flat extends right to the beach and there is no backreef. In other cases, fringing reefs may grow hundreds of yards from shore and contain extensive backreef areas with numerous seagrass meadows and patch reefs.
  This type of coral reef is the most common type of reef found in the Caribbean and Red Sea. Darwin believed that fringing reefs are the first kind of reefs to form around a landmass in a long-term reef growth process.
context_section_description: There are two main components that make up a fringing reef, the reef flat and the reef slope.
caption: Diagram of a fringing coral reef
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