| The world s largest coral reef is the Great Barrier | | | | the Great Barrier Reef. Six species of sea turtle come |
| Reef which composes of roughly 3000 individual reefs | | | | to the reef to breed Olive Ridley, Green Sea Turtle, |
| and 900 islands. The reef is located in the Coral Sea | | | | Hawksbill Turtle, Leatherback Sea Turtle, Loggerhead |
| off the coast of Queensland s in the northeast of | | | | Sea Turtle and Flat Back Turtles. Over 200 species of |
| Australia. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the | | | | birds live on the Reef, including the Roseate Tern and |
| wonders of the natural world it is the world s largest | | | | White bellies Sea Eagle. More than 1500 species of |
| coral reef ecosystem. It was declared a World | | | | fish live on the reef, including the, Red Bass, Clownfish, |
| Heritage in 1981. | | | | Red Throat Emperor, and several species of |
| More than two million people visit the reef each year | | | | Snappers and Coral Trout. 400 species of corals, both |
| generating more than 2 billion Austailian Dollors in | | | | soft corals and hard coral are found on the reef. |
| tourism dollars. Most of the visitors come to go out on | | | | Due to its vast, warm clear waters and its accessibility |
| the reef. | | | | from the floating guest facilities called live aboards, the |
| A scourge of the reef is bleaching where the corals | | | | reef is a very popular destination for the tourists, |
| have died in large numbers. This phenomenon is not | | | | especially scuba divers. Many cities along the |
| exclusive to Queensland s Great Barrier Reef, but has | | | | Queensland coast offer boat trips to the reef on a |
| been observed on reefs throughout the world. It is | | | | daily basis. Several continental islands have been |
| thought the bleaching has been caused by rises in | | | | turned into holiday resorts. |
| water temperature, although the evidence is not | | | | Townsville and Cairns are the largest of these coastal |
| conclusive. | | | | cities with populations of approximately 150,000 each. |
| Another one of the dangers to the habitat is the | | | | Unlike most reef environments worldwide, the Reef is |
| Crown of Thorns starfish. Since the 1960s the Crown | | | | the only one where the water catchments area is a |
| of Thorns have been destroying the corals which | | | | home to the industrialised urban areas and where |
| make up the reef. | | | | extensive areas of coastal lands and rangelands have |
| The Reef supports a diversity of life, 30 species of | | | | been used for agricultural and pastoral purposes. |
| whales, porpoises and dolphins, have been recorded in | | | | |