Question

Why are corals not found along west coast of america and west coast of africa?

Answer 1

Coral reefs occur in tropical regions where the mean surface temperature is above 20°C.

Coral reefs are either restricted or absent from along the west coast of the Americas, as well as the west coast of Africa. This is due primarily to upwelling and strong cold coastal currents that reduce water temperatures in these areas (Nybakken, 1997). Reefs are also restricted along the coast around north-eastern South America and Bangladesh due to the release of vast quantities of freshwater from the Amazon and Ganges Rivers respectively.