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