U.S. #5713i
2022 60¢ National Marine Sanctuaries – Queen Angelfish
Issue Date: August 5, 2022
First Day City: Santa Cruz, CA
Type of Stamp: Commemorative
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Pane of 16
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 38,000,000
Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary is located off the coast of Georgia and encompasses 22 square miles. It is not considered a coral reef like those in the tropics as it was not built by living hard corals. Gray's Reef was formed by the cementing of marine and other sediments (shell fragments, sand, and mud) millions of years ago. The stone that makes up the reef is known as carbonate-cemented sandstone.
The rocky surface of Gray's Reef is home to many different invertebrates. These include sea squirts, sponges, barnacles, and hard-tubed worms. There are also fish, shrimps, crabs, lobsters, snails, sea stars, soft corals, and hard corals that all call the reef home. Since Gray's Reef is located on the edge of temperate and tropical waters, fish populations vary from season to season. One especially interesting fish found near Gray's Reef is the queen angelfish. These fish are multicolored with yellows, greens, bright blues, and sometimes even oranges present in a single individual. They are also known to hybridize with other angelfish species and produce even more color variations.
With the wide range of animals found within Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, it is a popular dive location. Safety regulations ensure divers and boat operators respect the reef and allow it to be enjoyed by others for many years to come.