noun
atoll; circular coral reef
Geographical term for a ring-shaped coral reef enclosing a lagoon.
モルディブは多くの環礁からなる国です。
The Maldives is a country made up of many atolls.
環礁の内側にはラグーンが広がっている。
A lagoon spreads inside the atoll.
サンゴ礁 is a general term for coral reefs, while 環礁 specifically refers to a ring-shaped atoll.
Compound of 環 (ring) and 礁 (reef), directly describing the ring-shaped coral reef.