| The most famous and stunning reef in the | | | | designated as one of the seven natural |
| world is the Great Barrier Reef. Here is | | | | wonders of the world by CNN, and the |
| an overview of the Great Barrier Reef, | | | | Reef was designated as a World Heritage |
| just a tip of the iceberg of beauty and | | | | Site in 1981. |
| diversity held in this icon of | | | | The Great Barrier Reef is one of the |
| Australia. | | | | most visited tourism spots in the world. |
| An Overview of the Great Barrier Reef | | | | The biodiversity, along with the beauty |
| The Earth is made up of two thirds water | | | | of the Reef and the easy accessibility, |
| - and that water holds many of the | | | | make the Great Barrier Reef a tourist |
| world's mysteries. Hundreds of thousands | | | | destination, especially for scuba |
| of species of fish, water plants and | | | | divers. Much of the Reef is under the |
| other underwater organisms reside in the | | | | authority of the Great Barrier Reef |
| Earth's oceans; as well as many | | | | Marine Park, and this area is protected |
| different rock and other land | | | | and enjoys certain freedoms from |
| formations. Some of the most interesting | | | | commercial intervention. Some of the |
| things that can be found in the ocean | | | | islands here have been turned into |
| are coral reefs. The largest coral reef | | | | resorts, and "live aboard" boats are |
| in the world is the Great Barrier Reef, | | | | available for those who wish to have |
| which is located off of the coast of | | | | multi-day diving tours of the Reef. |
| Australia. | | | | Another of the great things about the |
| The Great Barrier Reef is in the Coral | | | | Great Barrier Reef is its age. Although |
| Sea, which is situated just off of the | | | | scientists believe that the Reef is |
| coast of Queensland in northern | | | | built on the remains of another coral |
| Australia. It is made up of 3000 | | | | reef that dates back at least 18,000 |
| separate coral reefs and 900 different | | | | years, the current Great Barrier Reef |
| islands, which stretch to a length of | | | | can only be dated back 1000 years, which |
| 1616 miles. The Reef is often referred | | | | can be dated by analyzing the species of |
| to as the largest living organism in the | | | | boulder coral that makes up this Reef. |
| world, although in reality, it is | | | | The age of the Reef combined with its |
| actually made up of many, many tiny | | | | many different animals and views makes |
| organisms; each of these is known as | | | | the Great Barrier Reef an excellent spot |
| coral polyps. The Reef is so large that | | | | for a trip. |
| it can be seen from space. It has been | | | | |