The World Reef
In building The World, we used more than 32 million tons of natural rock to build a natural reef that protects the development’s more than 300 islands. These islands range from 1.5 hectares to 4 hectares in size. The result is a 13km long natural breakwater that is home to a significant amount of marine life.
The World exists harmoniously with the diverse, marine life that inhabits its waters, and this is the basis for its future standard towards the environment. Based on Posford Haskoning’s Environment Gulf report, the quality of seawater surrounding the islands was superior to that tested along the shoreline of Dubai. There exist today at least one hundred different types of flora and fauna within the project. Extensive colonies of pearl oysters and other mollusks have established on the rocky breakwater and are a testament to the favorable growing conditions.
As a result of the artificial reefs, a variety of marine habitats have been created within and around The World which has attracted a variety of marine life.. These varied marine habitats provide shelter, reproduction and feeding grounds for fish and other marine organisms. As a result, the fish population associated with The World is growing and supporting a complex marine ecosystem .In fact, Professor Joseph J. Valencic, a world reknowned marine biologist, suggested The World’s natural rock materials provide the fish with “condos stocked with food.”
