Paragraph 1: Coral reefs are natural structures formed from deposits of the calcium carbonate secretions of coral, a marine animal that lives in colonies. In general, coral reefs are grouped into one of three categories, atolls, barrier reefs, and fringing reefs. Atolls are usually easily distinguished because they are modified horseshoe-shaped reefs that rise out of very deep water far from land and enclose a lagoon (a body of certain water surrounded by a coral reef). With few exceptions, atolls are found only in the Indo-Pacific area. Barrier reefs and fringing reefs, on the other hand, tend to grade into each other and are not readily separable. Some scientists would prefer to group them into a single category. Both types occur adjacent to a landmass, with a barrier reef being separated from the landmass by a greater distance and deeper water channel than the fringing reef. Fringing reefs and barrier reefs are common throughout the coral reef zones in all oceans.
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