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​A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from an ocean, sea or lake by some kind of barrier, usually a reef or an island. Lagoons may be closely associated with the islands of the South Pacific, where they are numerous, but occur all over the world in both fresh and salt water. 

Some scientists classify fresh water lagoons as estuaries, especially if they occur at the mouth of a river.

There are several different categories of lagoon which are detailed below.

Features Related to Lagoons:

Ecosystems: Reefs: Reefs can be constructed of different materials including rock, sand or coral. Others can be artificially or accidentally created, such as a sunken aircraft or ship. Here are three major examples of reefs from around the world.

​Ecosystems: Islands: In its simplest definition, an island is a piece of land surrounded by water. Depending on their size, you can think of them as a submerged mountain or rocky outcrop with just the upper part exposed to the air.

Tracking Sharks on the Great Barrier Reef: Join Dr. Michelle Heupel of the Australian Institute of Marine Science for this week-long look at how she uses high tech acoustics to track sharks on the Great Barrier Reef.

Still Searching: The Mysterious Disappearance of Amelia Earhart: After nearly three decades of scientific research and discovery, learn how historians and archaeologists may be getting close to solving one of the Pacific Ocean’s most enduring mysteries. This feature is updated periodically throughout the year.

Types of Lagoons: