The Great Barrier Reef

Without doubt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the world’s most important natural asset. In fact, this phenomenon is the largest natural feature on earth, reaching along the northeast coast of this continent some 1,429 miles from the northern tip of Queensland to the north of Bundaberg. Because of its stunning beauty, the Reef is also one of the hottest tourist destinations.

During the dry season, the weather is perfect, the rainforest breathtaking, the beaches covered with gorgeous white sand, and the ocean magnificent with colors that change from blue to green to turquoise. Because of all the natural beauty and resources, people flock there to scuba dive, snorkel, swim, surf, bird watch, hike, or simply lay out in the warm summer sun.


In all, the Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 1,500 species of fish. In addition, there are over 4,000 types of Mollusk, and 200 species of birds. The reef system itself is comprised of over 3,000 reefs, each distinct and different in size from a little over two acres up to 20,000 acres. Making the reef even more impressive is the fact that it is scattered with magnificent islands and idyllic coral cays that cover over 1,860 miles.

Down through history, the jagged coral of the Reef has caused many ships damage and even some to wreck. While there have been numerous famous ships that have gone down, the one that stands out the most is the HMS Pandora, founded in 1791. Today, you can visit the Queensland Museum and see many of the artifacts that have been recovered through archaeological digs.

Because of the coral and cays, the Great Barrier Reef is the home to wonderful creatures that range from small to large, with the coral polyps being one of the most intriguing. This jelly-like blob has tentacles and looks similar to an anemone although it is much smaller. These coral polyps live within an aragonite shell, which is somewhat like calcium carbonate, otherwise known as the hard shell of coral. Then, the polyps connect, creating dense, colored coral in unique shapes such as a brain, plate, fan, and antler.

If you scuba dive below the surface to see the Great Barrier Reef up close, you will discover there are several different kinds of coral. Some grow very slowly but can live up to 200 or 300 years of age while other types of coral grow extremely fast. A fascinating fact about the coral is that algae are what cause the color. If the coral is colorful, it is alive but if the coral is white, it is dead.

Every year, more than two million people come from around the globe to experience the Great Barrier Reef for themselves. In fact, the tourism is so strong that over $AU2billion is generated every year. To get to the reef system, Australia has a fleet of 500 commercial vessels. The majority of the Reef is in the Marine Park where it is protected. With that, you would not be able to fish for green turtles, whales, dugong, and dolphin. The one thing everyone agrees on when visiting the Great Barrier Reef is that it is a stunning natural system, leaving you with a new appreciation for creation.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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