![]() Thirty species of whales, dolphins, and other porpoises have been recorded in the reef, including the dwarf minke whale, the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, and the humpback whale. The Great Barrier Reef supports a variety of life, including many vulnerable or endangered species. Green Sea Turtle on the Great Barrier Reef In the northern part of the Great Barrier Reef, ribbon reefs-long and thin and lacking a lagoon-and deltaic reefs resembling a river delta have formed these reef structures are not found in the rest of the Great Barrier Reef system. Sea level on the Great Barrier Reef has not risen significantly in the last 6,000 years. As the sea level rose further still, most of the continental islands were submerged and the coral could then overgrow the hills, to form the present cays and reefs. By around 13,000 years ago, the rising sea level was within 60 meters (196 feet) of its present level, and coral began to grow around the hills of the coastal plain, which by then were continental islands. Satellite image of part of the Great Barrier Reef adjacent to the Queensland coastal areas of Proserpine and Mackay.Īccording to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the current living reef structure is believed to have begun growing on an older platform about twenty thousand years ago when the sea level was about 130 meters (426 feet) lower than it is today.įrom 20,000 years ago until 6,000 years ago, the sea level rose steadily. Each year, some 2 million tourists from around the world come to swim, fish, and enjoy the magnificent ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef. The Queensland National Trust has named it a state icon of Queensland. The reef was also selected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, and it has been labeled as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. In reality, it is a complex ecosystem comprising many billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps, living in harmony with countless species of rare and exquisite flora and fauna. The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from space and is sometimes referred to as the single largest organism in the world. A large part of the reef is protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland in northeast Australia. The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system, comprises roughly three thousand individual reefs and nine hundred islands stretching for 1,616 miles (2,586 kilometers) and covering an area of approximately 214,000 square miles (554,260 square kilometers). Pollution, overfishing, destructive fishing practices using dynamite or cyanide, collecting live corals for the aquarium market, mining coral for building materials, and a warming climate are some of the many ways that people damage reefs all around the world every day.An aerial photograph of the Great Barrier Reef. How have humans been involved in the Great Barrier Reef? You can volunteer on the Great Barrier Reef.And it’s home to nearly 5,000 marine and mammal species.You’ll find a third of the world’s coral here.It’s bigger than Tasmania and Victoria, combined.It’s the only place on earth where two UNESCO World Heritage Sites meet.What are 10 facts about the Great Barrier Reef?ġ0 incredible facts about the Great Barrier Reef A bleached reef isn’t always a dead reef. ![]() The reef is further out than you may think.It is home to an incredible diversity of species.It is the world’s largest reef system.What are 5 interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef?ġ1 Amazing Facts About The Great Barrier Reef! Only use reef-safe sunscreen and wear high SPF factor clothing where you can in place of sunscreen. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |