<P> The coral reefs of the South Pacific are low - lying structures that have built up on basaltic lava flows under the ocean's surface . One of the most dramatic is the Great Barrier Reef off northeastern Australia with chains of reef patches . A second island type formed of coral is the uplifted coral platform, which is usually slightly larger than the low coral islands . Examples include Banaba (formerly Ocean Island) and Makatea in the Tuamotu group of French Polynesia . </P> <Ul> <Li> <P> Pacific Ocean up sun from the rocks </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Point Reyes headlands, Point Reyes National Seashore, California </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Tahuna maru islet, French Polynesia </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Los Molinos on the coast of Southern Chile </P> </Li> </Ul> <Li> <P> Pacific Ocean up sun from the rocks </P> </Li> <P> Pacific Ocean up sun from the rocks </P>

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