They are basically large formations or structures which are made up of living organisms. The commonest ones are Halodule and Halophila. It is the algae which give the corals their colour so, of course, no algae means a bleached, colourless reef. 2. Here are some facts about the Great Barrier Reef. As a matter of fact, the current formations are actually only 6,000 to 8,000 years old. The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, covering about 133,000 square miles. The Reef is estimated to be around 18 million years old, although no one really knows its age for sure. There are 12 shipping ports on the Great Barrier Reef coast: the Port of Cairns is the major port for visitors to the Great Barrier Reef. Adventures around this spectacular area can take place from the air, by boat, or by diving beneath the waves and … We use cookies to improve user experience and serve interest-based ads through our advertisement partner. The Top Indigenous Travel Experiences in Australia, Planning Your Trip to Cairns & the Great Barrier Reef. Over the next few days, you may notice some articles disappearing from the site. This move aims to create a separate website that is not related to studies and provides only interesting stuff! The living corals which form the reef now are sat upon old, dead structures. The Reef is surprisingly easy to access: you can reach it from many different parts of Queensland. Following this, new corals can form. If you’re more of a sea-person, you can cruise your way to the reef; cruises run regularly from Brisbane and Sydney. Here are 19 amazing facts about the Great Barrier Reef, all of which are great reasons to plan a visit! The Great Barrier Reef is composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, though only a handful of the islands are populated. 12. The aborigine people would have been able to walk on the great barrier reef. The alien-like nautilus is a distant cousin to the squid but what makes this creature unique is that it appears to have remained relatively unchanged over the last 500 million years! As a matter of fact, the current formations are actually only 6,000 to 8,000 years old. Related article: Top 5 things to do in the Great Barrier Reef, 1300 661 225Suite 409, Level 4, 2 Queen Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, © Copyright 2020 | Sightseeing Tours Australia ABN: 53 204 539 966 |, Great Barrier Reef Premium Snorkelling Tour $189, Great Barrier Reef Pontoon Adventure $195, 2 Day Great Barrier Reef Liveaboard Tour $460, 3 Day Great Barrier Reef Liveaboard Tour $690, Top 5 things to do in the Great Barrier Reef, 30 species of whale, dolphin, and porpoise. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Whale sharks (which are actually fish not sharks) can grow up to 30 metres long. If we calculate the length from the northernmost tip to its southernmost tip, it covers a whopping 1,600 miles or 2,575 kilometers. This is the reason why GBRMPA or Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority increased the count of highly protected zones in 2004 by nearly 30%. When we say formations, what exactly do we mean? Covering around 344,400 square kilometers, or 133,000 square miles, the Great Barrier Reef is larger than Italy. This limestone is used for building the structures of the reef. In addition to this, the algae also make limestone. As well as some of the most unique and beautiful marine animals on the planet, the Great Barrier Reef is also home to the Box Jellyfish, the Blue Ringed Octopus, and Stone Fish – some of the most poisonous marine animals that we know of. Green Sea Turtle. 1. The biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef is extremely rich and it is also the home for various endangered species of marine animals. For instance, 30 different species of porpoises, dolphins and whales live in the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef attracts over 2,000,000 visitors each year! The Great Barrier Reef is pretty old. Sarah Megginson is an Australia-based travel writer, editor, and ghostwriter who has written her own book on successful freelance writing. Now that’s quite interesting, ain’t it? Also, whilst tourism can play a part in the reef’s problems, it is also a part of the solution. Whilst it is cooler in the winter, the air and water temperatures are still pleasant and, most importantly, you’ll avoid a dreaded jellyfish encounter. Olive Ridley Turtle, Flatback Turtle, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, Leatherback Sea Turtle and Green Sea Turtle are the six different turtle species that use the Great Barrier Reef as their breeding ground. The coral polyps provide a safe and cozy place for the algae. The sea snakes that are found here are usually found in the southern section of the reef as opposed to the northern section. The total area covered by Great Barrier Reef is 344,400 square kilometres is in Coral sea which is off the coast of Queensland, Australia. About 40,000 years ago, there was an ice age that made the water drop significantly lower. and is an Australian landmark used by astronauts. At 2300 kilometers – or 1,429 miles – in length, the. Rising sea temperatures and pollution leave the coral more susceptible to bleaching and, tragically, eventual death. One of the fact about Great ref is that it is visible from outer space and is also the world’s biggest structure created … But have no fear! Don’t be surprised to see humpback whale, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin and dwarf minke whale living in the reef area. We are pretty sure that you will instantly fall in love with this amazing place and consider a trip soon. That part of the reef is about 8,000 years old. The Great Barrier Reef is pretty old. Corals gain their rock-like structure from the polyps as they use calcium and carbonate ions from the seawater to create a hard outer skeleton to protect their soft bodies. By using Tripsavvy, you accept our. Zooxanthellae are a type of algae. However, the formations that we see today are not as old as the reef itself. An entire colony can synchronise, with each polyp releasing its genetic matter into the water creating a scene reminiscent of a snowstorm. Hamilton Island, the largest island in the Great Barrier Reef archipelago, is the only island to have a commercial airport, making it easily accessible by plane. 13. 15. A barrier reef is defined as a coral reef running parallel to the shore but separated by a large lagoon. Tourism can also play a role, with swimmers and divers touching and damaging parts of the reef as well as leaving behind rubbish and contaminating the waters with sun cream and other pollutants. 18. You’ve probably seen and heard a lot about this underwater wonderland but in case you haven’t, here’s everything you need to know…. But aside from the scorching temperatures, what may put you off a summer visit are the stingers.
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