It has happened for the first time that a living reef of cold-water corals has been found in Greenland. The revelation is quite exciting as the coral reef was discovered by accident.

Researchers were not looking out for the reef, which is made of Lophelia pertusa. Researchers from Dartmouth University's Bedford Institute of Oceanography were on a vessel, CCGS Henry Larsen, and were taking some water samples.

For the same, they inserted measuring instruments into the water to a depth of 900 metres. When they retracted the instrument, it was all smashed and having pieces of coral branches.

"At first the researchers were swearing and cursing at the smashed equipment and were just about to throw the pieces of coral back into the sea, when luckily they realised what they were holding", said researcher Helle Jorgensbye of the Technical University of Denmark.

Researchers are happy about the discovery, but they do not think that the discovery will be able to boost tourism in Greenland, as it has done in countries like Australia. There is a reason for the same, as the currents near the reef are too strong and can prove dangerous for diving.

The cold water reefs live in total darkness under the waves. These reefs are said to be rarer than warm water reefs, but are not counted as unusual. For the first time, environmentalists have discovered cold water reef in Greenland. It is generally found near Norway and Finland.