it's still fragile. part of a much larger eco system near the booming resort towns of the gulf of akaba. >> it's an eco system that grew as a reef next to a complete desert. basically there is not supposed to be artificial life. there is not supposed to be a lot of development. we are allowing the development of a lot, but it has to be very slow. >> reporter: the reef is only 4 kilometers long, a tiny fraction of the 2000 kilometers of reef along the red sea. perhaps because it's so small, israel treats it as a national treasure. one that's far too valuable to let go. orrin liber man, cnn. >> incredible there. we are going to take a very short break. but we'll be back in just a moment. are finding themselves in a chevy for the first time.e you can too during the chevy labor day sales event. now through september 10th, use labor day cash to get almost $5,000 below msrp