Northern Brazil
The reefs lie along 3,000 km (1,900 mi) of the northern coast of Brazil from the south of Bahia to Maranhão. The Park was formed to protect the reefs; they are nevertheless increasingly vulnerable to bleaching and other damage. The coral grows on granite and covers an area of 1,800 hectares (4,400 acres). At low tide some parts may be no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) below the surface of the water.