First Footage of an Arctic Reef

In the frigid waters off the coast of Norway lives a massive coral reef. With a footprint of over 40 kilometers across, the Rost Reef was discovered by echo sound equipment in 2002. Though the water at the bottom is only 2 degrees Centigrade above freezing, the reef is host to abundant life from plankton to fish.

Recently, researchers from the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom explored the reef with a submersible for the first time. Their footage shows just how lively those friggin freezing waters can be...

(Note: Actual underwater footage starts at 3:15 in the film. We suggest you skip ahead to it, unless watching three full minutes of a small submarine being hoisted into the air on a crane with inappropriate, quirky music playing in the background is your thing.)

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