Scientists say they have found the world’s largest coral near the Solomon Islands in the Pacific, announcing a major discovery Thursday “full of life and color.” The coral is so immense that researchers navigating the crystal-clear waters of the Solomon Islands initially thought they had stumbled upon a massive wreck.

“Just when we think there is nothing more to discover on planet Earth, we find a massive coral made up of almost a billion tiny polyps, vibrant with life and color,” said l marine ecologist Enric Sala.

The self-contained structure, formed from a “complex network” of tiny coral polyps, has probably been growing for 300 years or more, the researchers said.

Measuring about 111 feet wide and 104 feet long, the team said the “mega coral” was three times larger than the previous record holder, a coral nicknamed “Big Momma” in American Samoa. Massive coral is not a coral reefstructures that can be much larger but are made up of many distinct coral colonies, they explained.

“While Big Momma looked like a huge ball of ice sitting on the reef, this newly discovered coral is like the ice is starting to melt, spreading forever along the sea floor,” said lead scientist Molly Timmers.

It is longer than a blue whale and is considered “so colossal” that it could be seen from space.

The coral was discovered on the southeastern tip of the Solomon Islands, in an area known as the Three Sisters. It was spotted by a National Geographic team embark on a scientific expedition in the region.

The oceans are warmer and more acidic drained the life of the corals in many tropical waters in the region, a process called bleaching, notably in Australia’s famous Great Barrier Reef. But this latest discovery offers a small glimmer of hope, according to the research team.

“While nearby shallow reefs have been degraded due to warming seas, seeing this large oasis of healthy coral in slightly deeper waters is a beacon of hope,” said coral specialist Eric Brown .

The lush rainforests and crystal clear waters of the Solomon Islands have long been celebrated for their ecological diversity. Wildlife observations made in the area in the 1920s helped prove a key part of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

“There is so much to learn about the rich marine life and ocean ecosystem, but this discovery opens the doors of knowledge,” said Collin Beck, a senior Solomon Islands official. “More scientific research is needed to better understand our rich biodiversity and our planet.”

The discovery was announced as representatives from around the world gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the United Nations COP29 summit on climate change.

Solomon Islands National Climate Minister Trevor Manemahaga told CBS News partner network BBC News at the summit that his country was proud to be home to the newly discovered enormous coral.

“We want the world to know that this is a special place and it needs to be protected,” he told the BBC. “We rely primarily on marine resources for our economic survival, so coral is very, very important.”

Small, low-lying island nations, like the Solomon Islands, are among the most vulnerable to disasters. growing effects of climate change and sea level rise.