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