a. Where the barrier reef is well developed the lagoon 

 bottom tends toward a thick sand accumulation and stability. An 

 exception is Big Wood Cay which is atypical because of strong tidal 

 currents sweeping the Middle Bight Channel. 



b. The barrier reef becomes less distinct proceeding from 

 north to south along Andros Island. 



c. Where no barrier reef is present, e.g., Golding Cay 

 and High Point Cay, the bottom is characterized by scattered large 

 coral-algal heads and a thin veneer of coarse sand. 



d. The outer platform supports a more luxuriant coral-algal 

 and marine community where barrier reef development is strongest. 



e. Dominant reef corals in the major zones are: 



Lagoons - Favia fragum , Siderastrea radians , Manicina 

 areolata , Porites porites , and occasional 

 Diploria strigosa . 



Barrier Reef - Millepora sp., Agaricia agaricites var. 

 crassa , Acropora palmata . 



Outer Platform - Montastrea annularis , Porites astreoides , 

 Acropora cervicornis . 



Rim Escarpment - Montastrea cavernosa , Agaricia sp. 



f. The outer platform slopes gently seaward and is interrupted 

 in some areas by terraces running parallel to the reef. The surface 

 of the platform is hard, texturally rough, and has numerous local 

 topographic irregularities (e.g., spurs and grooves, scattered and 

 closely spaced coral heads) . 



The upper marginal or rim escarpment commences generally between 

 14 and 16 fathoms and descends almost vertically to depths in excess 

 of 100 fathoms. The escarpment face is thoroughly sculptured by caves, 

 terraces, and notches strongly suggesting former exposure to sub-aerial 

 or intertidal erosion. Below 450 feet in depth these features diminish 

 in size and frequency, and the wall, while still texturally rough, 

 appears somewhat smoother and sediment accumulation is greater. 



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