Corallite Pillar

A corallite pillar is an unusual geographic landmark formed by spinefield coral. These pillars are the result of coral polyps releasing calcium carbonate at an extremely fast rate, forming a pillar over ten metres in height. While this is the minimum height for it to be classed as a corallite pillar, these landmarks can reach more than two hundred metres in height, and ten metres in width.

Ecology

Eggy Placeholder by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Corallite pillars are the foundations of vertical coral reefs. They're often interpreted and artificially created within elaborate aqariums. The Royal Authieian Museum features a large aquarium with a corallite pillar reef as the centrepiece, boasting forty species of coral and aquatic plants.

These reefs are most common around the Blackfields and the north of the Latica Ocean. Some poke through the surface of the ocean, forming small islands where land corals grow. Birds and marine mammals like to nest on these small islands, such as kawatas, small puffin-like birds.

Many large predatory fish stalk the waters around corallite pillars, feeding on smaller tropical fish. Puncher crabs nest atop flat table corals growing on these pillars, boxing their prey to death.

Significant Corallite Pillars

Asaan

- Two miles north of Cazan Island -

Asaan is the planet's largest corallite pillar, standing at three hundred and five metres from the seabed. Asaan stands twenty metres above sea level, where a small island of kelp and dead coral has formed. It is the nesting site of five different bird species, as well as vagrants from time to time.

Ouroboros

- Central Latica Ocean -

Ouroboros was a scientific discovery of the century, for ocean ecologists. Ouroboros is shaped as a double helix, with currents running throughout. As a result the pillar is rich in oxygen and life thrives in the area. It is completely overgrown, covered in mosses, corals, and kelp.

Esgracia

- 100 metres south of the Noraiis Mountain Range -

Where the Noraiis mountains reach the ocean, Esgracia can be found. This artificial reef is still constructed out of spinefield coral, but it was made with tracking devices and cameras inserted to study local wildlife. This is an incredibly hostile region, and Esgracia has proved to be the only way to study creatures up close.

FULL ARTICLE: NORRAB

Moons: 5
Distance from Sun: 14 AU

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Type
Coral Reef

Alternative Names

Spinefield Pillar
Spinefield Tower

Parent Location

Latica Ocean

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