A team of Australian scientists on board the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor was mapping the northern Great Barrier Reef seafloor when they stumbled on a towering skyscraper of coral more than 1,640 feet tall—the first of its kind discovered in more than 120 years. Known as a detached reef, the newfound coral tower is one of eight now known in the region. These natural structures provide vital habitats for creatures like turtles and sharks, which flit in and out of the deep waters adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef. The team mapped the detached reef, finding a variety of lifeforms thriving in the ecosystem. They collected samples of rock, sediments, and some organisms that will be sent to labs for analysis.