Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometres over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres. The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia, separated from the coast by a channel 100 miles wide in places and over 200 feet deep. The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms. This reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps. It supports a wide diversity of life and was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981. CNN labelled it one of the seven natural wonders of the world in 1997. Australian World Heritage places included it in its list in 2007. The Queensland National Trust named it a state icon of Queensland in 2006.

Read more in the app

Secrets of the Great Barrier Reef: How Corals Fight Back Against Warming Seas

Scientists Sound the Alarm: Record Ocean Heat Puts the Great Barrier Reef in Danger

Hottest ocean temperatures in 400 years an ‘existential threat’ to the Great Barrier Reef, researchers find

New report on Great Barrier Reef shows coral cover increases before onset of serious bleaching, cyclones

New 400-year temperature record shows Great Barrier Reef is facing catastrophic damage, researchers warn - EurekAlert

Heat Raises Fears of ‘Demise’ for Great Barrier Reef Within a Generation

Record-breaking Coral Sea temperatures threaten the Great Barrier Reef

Culling predatory starfish conserves coral on the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef corals can be effectively protected by proactive, targeted, sustained management of the coral ... - EurekAlert

Deep parts of Great Barrier Reef 'insulated' from global warming – for now - EurekAlert

Deep parts of Great Barrier Reef 'insulated' from global warming -- for now

Diving Deep Into the Great Barrier Reef’s Hidden Climate Defense

How mass bleaching has pushed the Great Barrier Reef to the brink

Bleached Out: Heat Stress Cooks Great Barrier Reef

Scientists Are Tinkering With Clouds to Save the Great Barrier Reef

Fifth mass coral bleaching event in eight years hits Great Barrier Reef, marine park authority confirms

New Species of Shrimpgoby Discovered at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

Discovery of invisible nutrient discharge on Great Barrier Reef raises concerns

Scientists Discover Hidden Threat to the Great Barrier Reef