It's bigger than Central Park, is 24 metres down in the ocean - and contains hundreds of subway cars - and a few tanks
Redbird Reef off the coast of Delaware serves as a unique artificial habitat created using decommissioned subway cars, military vehicles, and ships. The site has successfully transformed a sandy seabed into a thriving ecosystem that supports diverse marine life and boosts the local economy through fishing and diving.
Why it matters
It demonstrates an innovative approach to waste management and environmental restoration, though it remains a subject of debate regarding the long-term ecological impact of submerged industrial materials.
Bearing in mind that there could be around three million sunken vessels lurking at the bottom of the ocean, it makes sense that shipwrecks are the most common type of artificial reef.
But boats aren’t the only things that have been used to create new habitats. There are even decommissioned subway carriages beneath the waves.
Possibly the most famous of these submerged subway reefs is Redbird Reef. It’s around 24 metres deep off the coast of Slaughter Beach, Delaware.
The creation of Redbird Reef began in 1996 as part of a wider programme using recycled materials to create new habitats across several artificial reef sites.
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