It’s quite the sight, but will they soon be gone? Not if these conservationists have anything to do with it. Photo: Wikimedia
If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it. But if it’s broken beyond repair, do whatever it takes to rebuild it — at least that’s what a collaboration of expert engineers, environmentalists, architects, and specialized divers figured when they decided to build the world’s largest artificial reef. Kan-Kanán is their response to the damage already done to our natural ecosystem, a reaction to the coastal corrosion of our own doing as well as disastrous effects of continued climate change (also, arguably, of our own doing).
This monumental artificial reef is being built with over 1,000 hollow pyramidal structures, created on a concrete and micro silica base. With a team of specialized divers’ extreme and calculated precision, these ten-ton slabs are to be placed across the seabed. The environmentally friendly construction of these slabs allows nutrients to attach, which everyone hopes will result in the regeneration of marine life. The so-called “Guardian of the Caribbean” will cover a 1.9-kilometer area snaking parallel along the coast of Punta Brava. It is therefore named Kan-Kanán, which means “The Guarding Serpent” in Mayan.
These construction workers wear wetsuits. Photo: YouTube
Located in Puerto Morelos in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, the construction site is home to over 13,450 marine species. It also stands in front of the world’s second natural coral barrier.
If this isn’t an attention grabber “teaser,” then I don’t know what is. Dramatic, but I suppose the coastal corrosion and damage we’ve already done to the reef is dramatic in and of itself.
