The Dhaka Times Desk One of the most popular tourist destinations in our country is the coconut Zingira Island which we call St. Martin's Island. This island is completely different from other regions of our country in terms of topography and soil structure. Because it is a coral island. Only the top layer of normal soil or silt but the base is completely coral.
What exactly is coral?
Coral is a marine animal belonging to the class Anthzoa. They form polyps and usually live in colonies. All polyps in a colony are genetically identical. Although they are animals, they spend the rest of their lives immobile on a solid surface in the ocean floor when they reach maturity. Millions of corals live side by side to form coral colonies.
How are coral islands formed?
A coral forms a hard rocky shell or exoskeleton by excreting calcium carbonate around its body where it grows. After a coral polyp dies, the shell remains, and the shell can then regrow the coral's remains. Thus, a colony over many generations takes on the shape of large rocks and creates large coral islands and reefs. And this is how St. Martin's Island was formed.
Why is it okay to extract coral?
Most tourists buy such corals as souvenirs or as a hobby when they return from sea-viewing and arrange them to decorate their drawing rooms. But do you know that by buying this type of coral, we are harming the nature or the marine environment. If these corals continue to be removed from the depths of the sea, it will one day threaten the existence of the island of St. Martin. Because on this coral reef stands our most beautiful island, Saint Martin. But this coral mining will damage the island's foundation. As a result, the island is likely to sink.
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