Coral Reefs

Saipan is surrounded by irregular fringing reefs and a barrier reef off the lagoon. The fringing reefs are pink and the barrier reef isn't on the map, but it does exist in real life.

SIMILARITIES:

-all types of coral reefs
-need hard surface to grow
-all have reef slopes and reef flats
-variety of coral grow on reef slopes
-fish live in all the reefs

DIFFERENCES:
-barrier reefs and atolls have spur and grooves
-fringing reefs grow close to shore
-barrier reefs are separate by a lagoon and atolls surround lagoons
-fringing reefs can extend all the way to shore
-atolls are built on sunked volcanic islands