Reunion - 4: Fringing reefs and beaches.

Fringing reefs are rare in La Réunion, discontinuous, flat, narrow, up to 500 meters wide and larger, and associated with depressions of low-depth reefs.
Their minor development around this Island (unlike Mauritius), is due to the presence of platforms likely to be colonized.
Most of the coral constructions are located west of the island on the leeward coast, away from the mouths of the large gullies, in an area where volcanism is no longer functional.

The small lagoons constitute a natural aquarium, where shrimp, clownfish, sea turtles, grouper and barracudas rub shoulders. Wrecks were cast in the 1980s, to promote the development of underwater life and became diving spots.
 

The marine erosion of the reefs formed a few kilometers of sandy beach, bordered by coconut palms or filaos.

Sources:
- Kélonia - marine turtles observatory - St Leu - link
- St Gilles-les-Bains - Aquarium of Reunion Island.